Armed groups smuggle migrants to Croatia

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the director of the service for foreign affairs, Željko Laketa, has raised alarms regarding the rise of armed criminal groups involved in smuggling migrants to Croatia. These groups, primarily organized by Afghan nationals, have become increasingly violent, leading to recent clashes that resulted in the deaths of two migrants in Bihać and Sarajevo. The situation has escalated following police operations in neighboring Serbia and Hungary, which have disrupted smuggling routes and intensified competition among criminal factions. Laketa emphasized the urgent need for the European Union to assist Balkan countries in establishing effective border control measures. He described the current scenario as a serious security threat, highlighting the transformation of migrant groups into armed entities engaged in illegal border crossings. The violence among these groups poses risks not only to the migrants themselves but also to the broader regional stability. The increase in armed groups has raised concerns among local authorities, who fear that without intervention, the situation could deteriorate further. The BiH authorities are calling for international support to manage the migrant crisis and curb the activities of these criminal organizations. The involvement of organized crime in the migrant smuggling trade complicates an already challenging humanitarian situation. As the EU contemplates its response, the need for a coordinated approach to border security and migrant management in the Balkans has never been more critical. The ongoing violence and instability underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of migration and the criminal networks that exploit vulnerable populations.