International groups smuggle migrants through Bosnia

International groups are increasingly involved in smuggling migrants through Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the European Union, Bosnian prosecutors say.

In May, suspects from China, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Albania were detained near Bosnia’s border with Croatia on suspicion of helping migrants reach the EU.

Prosecutors say migrant-smuggling cases have fallen compared with last year, but the share involving foreign suspects has increased.

Bosnia lies on the Western Balkan migration route, used by people trying to reach the EU.

Authorities say citizens of Turkey, Egypt, Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Afghanistan have also been among those arrested in similar cases.

Migrant smuggling in Bosnia carries prison sentences of up to 15 years in the most serious cases.