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Bosnian police arrested 18 people on Monday in a sweeping operation targeting a criminal network accused of smuggling migrants into the European Union.
The group is suspected of moving migrants—mostly of Russian and Turkish origin—through Bosnia and into neighboring Croatia, as part of broader smuggling routes across the Balkans. From there, many were transported deeper into the EU.
The operation—codenamed “Istok Turist” (East Tourist)—was launched under orders from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and supervised by the national prosecutor’s office. Early-morning raids were carried out in Sarajevo, Travnik, Cazin, Velika Kladuša, and Novi Grad. Officers searched homes, vehicles, and other properties tied to the suspects. Police seized three vehicles and other evidence tied to the smuggling operation. All 18 suspects were taken into custody and are being questioned as criminal suspects, the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) said in a statement Monday.
Prosecutors believe the ring had been operating for months, arranging illegal crossings and border transfers for profit. Authorities say members of the group handled logistics and recruited drivers to carry out the risky trips. Croatian police have arrested more than 200 such drivers in recent months, according to Bosnian officials.
The case underscores how the Western Balkan route remains one of the most active corridors for irregular migration into the EU. In 2024, Europol identified the Bosnia–Croatia border as the second busiest smuggling hotspot in the region and warned of mounting criminal activity along the Bosnia–Croatia–Slovenia route.
Just last week, Europol coordinated similar raids in Belgium, Germany, and Poland that targeted a separate international network. Fifteen suspects were arrested across the three countries, including six in Belgium, one in Germany, and eight in Poland.
Belgian suspects allegedly recruited drivers and oversaw financial transactions, while Polish operatives were also involved in drug trafficking and had ties to the country’s football hooligan scene. Authorities said some smuggling operations were carried out using a legally registered Polish transport company.
