ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Nine people were arrested between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in a vast operation against human trafficking conducted by SIPA (State Agency for Investigation and Bosnian Protection), with the support of the EU4FAST European project, which also involves the Department of Public Security – Central Directorate of Criminal Police of the Italian Ministry of Interior.
The investigation, which lasted over a year, led to the dismantling of a transnational criminal organization active along the Balkan route, one of the main corridors used for irregular entry to the European Union and, indirectly, towards Italy. The criminal group managed the whole chain of migrant traffic, from their transfer from Sarajevo to the border with Croatia, exploiting sensitive points along the Sava River for illegal crossings made with boats made available by the organization. Once entering the Croatian territory, one of the arrested subjects coordinated the logistics of the movements, accompanying migrants to Zagreb, a strategic hub from which the flows were subsequently addressed to other European countries, including Italy.
The operation is a significant result in contrast to transnational organised crime and confirms the effectiveness of international police cooperation in strengthening the security of the European area. In this context the Italian contribution is included through EU4FAST, a project co-funded by the European Union, which sees committed experts of the Ministry of Interior – including State Police staff, Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza – in operational and investigative support to Western Balkan authorities, candidates for EU membership.
photos: IPA Agency
(ITALPRESS).
