16 arrests as police target migrant smuggling across the Sava River

On a Europol-coordinated action day conducted on 22 October 2024 in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, law enforcement authorities from both countries arrested 16 migrant smugglers. The suspects are believed to be responsible for at least 12 incidents that saw a total of at least 159 migrants being smuggled from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia across the river Sava.

Using overcrowded boats, the suspects willingly put the lives and safety of the migrants at risk. After crossing the river, the migrants were clandestinely transported in various types of vehicles. Hiding them in passenger cars or the cargo areas of transport vehicles, the criminals would move the migrants towards Slovenia, Italy, Germany, and other EU countries. It is estimated that the criminals earned at least EUR 80 000 from these activities.

Results of the action day conducted simultaneously in Slavonski Brod in Croatia and Brod in Bosnia and Herzegovina include:

Croatia:

• 11 arrests
• 10 house searches
• 10 vehicle searches
• One gas pistol
• Bank cards, 38 mobile phones, 5 tablet computers
• A reflective vest with the inscription “Police” and an electronic toll device for the use on highways

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• 5 arrests
• 5 house searches
• EUR 1,500 in cash

Europol’s support

At the request of the involved partners, Europol provided on-the-spot support by deploying specialists based in Ogulin, Croatia, to the raids in Slavonski Brod, where they performed cross-checks for persons, phone numbers and other information. Europol’s experts also supported the action day remotely from the Agency’s Headquarters in The Hague, providing analytical support in real time.

This operation was conducted under the framework of an Operational Task Force (OTF) established in March 2023. It involves law enforcement authorities from Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and focuses on migrant smuggling organised criminal networks active on the Western Balkans route. Europol has been supporting this OTF and its members through analytical and operational support as well as financial support. Relying on Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application, the involved authorities can communicate securely with each other.

Participating law enforcement authorities:

Croatia:

• Criminal Police of Brodsko-posavska County Administration (Službenici kriminalističke policije Policijske uprave Brodsko-posavske)
• National Police Office (PNUSKOK) (Nacionalni policijski ured za suzbijanje korupcije i organiziranog kriminaliteta)
• State Attorney’s Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (Državno odvjetništvo, Ured za suzbijanje korupcije i organiziranog kriminaliteta (USKOK))

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• SIPA - State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA - Državna agencija za istrage i zaštitu)