Several people arrested in Una-Sana Canton, searches conducted at multiple locations

This is a joint international operation in the fight against illegal migration, which the BiH Prosecutor's Office is carrying out in cooperation with the Croatian USKOK and the judiciary and police of Montenegro, the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced, reports Patria News Agency. 

Under the order of a prosecutor from the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime, and Corruption, since the early morning hours, dozens of Border Police officers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with police officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Una-Sana Canton, who are providing support on the ground, are carrying out activities within the operation codenamed “Dardaneli“.

Several suspects have been deprived of their liberty, and searches are being conducted at multiple locations in the Una-Sana Canton area.

The operation is directed at individuals suspected of having, as an organized criminal group, engaged in smuggling a large number of Turkish citizens, as well as individuals from Middle Eastern countries and Syria, from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Croatia.

They charged illegal migrants large sums of money for smuggling, most often several hundred euros, and according to the collected evidence, around 300 people were smuggled during a period of about 2-3 months.

This operation is a decisive step in the fight of judicial and police institutions in BiH and the region against illegal migration and the smuggling of emigrants from foreign countries, through the Western Balkans region.

The mentioned international operation was prepared in detail at joint meetings with representatives of USKOK and the judiciary of Montenegro, and activities were also coordinated with the SELEC organization for police exchange and cooperation of the region's countries, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was also informed.

The persons deprived of their liberty will be handed over to the acting prosecutor, who will question the suspects and then make a decision on initiating proposals for detention, prohibition measures, and other activities in accordance with the law.