State Police arrests 18 people across BiH in crackdown on migrant smuggling

Eighteen individuals were taken into custody and will be brought to SIPA premises during the day for criminal processing and questioning as suspects. Their further legal status will be determined by the acting prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The “Istok Turist” operation is being conducted under the order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on suspicion that the criminal offenses of “Organizing a Group or Association for the Commission of the Criminal Offense of Migrant Smuggling” and “Human Smuggling,” as defined by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, have been committed.

“The individuals who were arrested had, for an extended period of several months, continuously organized the smuggling of migrants. They would take custody of migrants—mostly of Russian and Turkish origin—in the Sarajevo area, based on prior arrangements with foreign nationals or the organizers of the smuggling. They would then transport the migrants to border areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina and smuggle them into the territory of the Republic of Croatia, all for the purpose of obtaining illegal financial gain,” stated SIPA.

Members of the organized crime group were tasked with “recruiting” drivers who would, on the territory of the Republic of Croatia—specifically in the border areas with Bosnia and Herzegovina—pick up the migrants at pre-arranged locations. The illegal smuggling into Croatia had already been organized and carried out, with the goal of moving the migrants further toward Zagreb or other cities within the European Union.

It is emphasized that these drivers had previously been apprehended by officers of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia. It is estimated that more than 200 drivers have been detained so far for transporting migrants to Croatia and onward to other EU countries.

“During the searches, three passenger motor vehicles were discovered and temporarily seized, along with other items that may serve as evidence that the aforementioned criminal offenses were committed,” SIPA added.