Croatia has reported a significant rise in smuggler arrests this year, with authorities detaining 1,430 people involved in human smuggling. This marks a nearly 40 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Despite this surge in arrests, the number of irregular migrants intercepted has dropped by 60 percent, totaling just under 22,000 so far this year.
The Croatian interior ministry did not provide details about the nationalities of those arrested, but earlier reports suggest that around 80 percent of the smugglers are foreign nationals, primarily from Bosnia, Romania, Ukraine, and Serbia. This rise in arrests might be linked to a shift in the strategies used by migrants and refugees, who could be increasingly relying on smuggling rings to cross Croatia’s fortified borders.
Croatia serves as a key transit point for migrants traveling along the “Balkan Route” into the European Union. This year, most migrants attempting to enter Croatia have come from Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan. While the number of intercepted migrants has significantly decreased, the country continues to face challenges related to human smuggling.
As a member of the European Union for over a decade, Croatia joined the Schengen Area in 2023, which allows free movement without internal border checks. This new status has required Croatia to strengthen its border surveillance and checks, particularly as irregular migrants arriving in the country are entitled to lodge asylum claims. Under the Dublin Agreement, Croatia is responsible for processing these asylum requests, making it a key entry point into the EU.
The country shares a 932-kilometer border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, where most unauthorized entries occur. Bosnia’s authorities have reported that smuggling gangs, often run by armed migrants, manage illegal crossings into Croatia. Many migrants remain stuck near the heavily fortified borders, hoping for a chance to enter the EU.