Bosnian and Croatian authorities have detained 20 people suspected of smuggling between 100 and 200 migrants across Bosnian and Croatian borders further towards EU countries, in return for large sums of money.

Prosecutors said the migrants would have to pay amounts up to 10.000 BAM (5,112.92 EUR) to the suspects for the smuggling operation.

The group, which prosecutors said consists of Turkish and Kosovo nationals, allegedly began operating at the beginning of 2018, smuggling migrants from the territory of Turkey.

The crackdown on the alleged smuggling ring took place as part of two international police operations, codenamed “Taurus” and “Oks”, which were conducted by Bosnia’s and Croatia’s prosecutors’ offices and police forces, with support from the International Organization for Migration and Europe’s joint police force, EUROPOL.

(1 EUR =1.95583BAM)