Two BiH citizens arrested in Croatia on suspicion of migrant smuggling

According to a report by the Brod-Posavina Police Administration, on the morning of October 20, officers stopped a passenger car driven by a 26-year-old man and subsequently a truck driven by a 20-year-old man, both BiH citizens, in the eastern part of the police administration’s jurisdiction. Several foreign nationals who had illegally entered Croatia were found in the truck’s cargo compartment.

A criminal investigation confirmed suspicions that the two men had, intending to obtain unlawful financial gain, agreed with unidentified individuals to organize the transport of foreign nationals who had illegally entered Croatia and the European Union.

Under the arrangement, the 26-year-old acted as a scout, providing the 20-year-old with information about the locations and presence of police officers. The younger man picked up the foreign nationals in the truck and intended to transport them to an agreed destination.

The police said criminal complaints had been filed against both men with the Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Slavonski Brod on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of unlawful entry into, movement within and residence in Croatia, another European Union member state or a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. Both men were handed over to the police administration’s detention supervisor.

Proceedings against the foreign nationals were conducted in accordance with the provisions of Croatia’s Foreigners Act, the statement said.