INTERNATIONAL OPERATION COMBATING SMUGGLING OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS CODENAMED ’’BOSPHORUS’’ CARRIED OUT

Raids and arrest were carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia targeting suspects trafficking illegal immigrants from the territory of Turkey and Syria into the countries of Western Europe for money.

By order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, in cooperation with the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, several dozen police officers participated in a complex international operation codenamed ’’Bosphorus’’.

The Assigned Prosecutor was at the center of Border Police where from all activities in the field were coordinated.

The operation involved several countries, and was aimed at persons suspected of having organized and planned for large sums of money the smuggling of illegal immigrants from the territory of Turkey and Syria across BiH and Croatia, into EU countries.

Evidence was collected that the suspects organized illegal transport of dozens of illegal immigrants, of both sexes and different ages, for large amounts of money, sometimes reaching several thousand euros, who were smuggled through Montenegro, BiH and Croatia into the countries of Western Europe.

During the course of the operation the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina were in constant touch with their counterparts in the Republic of Croatia.

Searches of premises were carried on six locations in BiH and six persons were deprived of liberty, while in Croatia the operation was carried out at 14 locations.

Among the suspects in this international group, which operated in the territory of several countries, were citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia as well as Turkish citizens who were among the organizers of these illegal activities.

Operation ’’Bosphorus’’ is a decisive step in the fight against illegal migration from the Middle East, which was conducted in line with the highest international investigative and police standards.

Persons deprived of liberty in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be handed over to the Assigned Prosecutor who will, following the questioning of the suspects, decide on further activities in accordance with the law.