Border police in Bosnia and Herzegovina have arrested a suspect for attempting to smuggle 11 Syrian nationals.

The Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have arrested a Turkish national caught smuggling 11 Syrian citizens near the Gradiška border, which borders Croatia.

The suspect was apprehended during a border surveillance operation while attempting to transport the migrants into Croatian territory using a passenger vehicle registered in BiH, according to the Border Police.

Following instructions from the prosecutor’s office, the suspect was arrested and is currently being questioned, with investigations ongoing. A report regarding the criminal offense will be submitted to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Data from the European Union Coast Guard and Border Agency indicates that there were 12,407 irregular border crossings detected along the Balkan route in the first seven months of 2024. The BiH border remains a significant area for migrant smuggling.

Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to prevent further illegal crossings.