Operation 'Galeb': Well-established migrant smuggling ring busted

(Patria) - Acting on the order of a prosecutor from the BiH Prosecutor's Office, police officers of Brčko District, in cooperation with the BiH Border Police and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, have carried out an operational international action codenamed "Galeb", aimed at documenting and preventing the smuggling of migrants through Bosnia and Herzegovina into the Republic of Croatia and further into the countries of the European Union.

These activities relate to several suspects who are under investigation and are accused of illegally transporting migrants across the state border for several months, through which an organized criminal group has achieved significant financial gain.

These illegal activities were most often carried out across the territory of Brčko District, thus busting a well-established smuggling ring that operated in this area.

According to the collected evidence, the suspects were smuggling migrants using boats and vessels in secluded locations across the Sava River, thus avoiding border and customs control measures, all in order to gain illegal property benefits. During this morning's activities, and as part of an organized illegal crossing of the state border, 12 migrants were found on the Sava River near Brčko, and two members of the organized criminal group were apprehended.

As part of the operation, searches were carried out in the Brčko area, with the aim of collecting evidence and documenting the committed criminal offense.

The found illegal migrants were handed over to the further jurisdiction of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The suspects under investigation are accused of the criminal offense of organizing a group of people or an association for the commission of the criminal offense of 'migrant smuggling' from Article 189a in connection with the criminal offense of human trafficking from Article 189, paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office, together with partner institutions and agencies, carries out activities almost daily related to the prosecution of criminal offenses of migrant smuggling, in cities and areas across Bosnia and Herzegovina.