Migrant Smugglers Discovered in Sarajevo, Two Pakistani Nationals to be Deported from BiH

(Patria) - In a coordinated action, inspectors of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, in cooperation with police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), carried out intensified control activities at three locations in the municipalities of Stari Grad and Ilidža in Sarajevo. During the action, residential buildings illegally used for accommodating foreign nationals were inspected.

During the operation, approximately 20 foreign nationals were found, and all of them will be subjected to legal measures and actions within the jurisdiction of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. Approximately 200 travel documents and identification documents were found, including documents of nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Turkey, as well as a large quantity of equipment used for illegal border crossing, and a number of mobile phones.

For two Pakistani nationals, S.S. and A.S., who were found to be linked to the organization of international migrant smuggling on the Western Balkan route, a deportation measure was imposed, along with supervision and placement in the Immigration Center in Istočno Sarajevo. Further actions against them will be undertaken by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), given the indications linking them to migrant smuggling and the travel documents found.

The Service for Foreigners' Affairs, in cooperation with competent institutions, will continue to conduct intensified control and supervision activities to combat illegal stay, prevent human trafficking, and prevent the illegal use and rental of facilities for accommodating migrants.

On this occasion, we call on citizens to report any information about illegal and unregistered facilities for accommodating foreigners to the competent field centers of the Service, so that we can jointly contribute to preserving the security and legal order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.