Croatia thwarts 25,000 illegal entries, arrests 950 smugglers this year

Croatian authorities have prevented 25,000 attempts of illegal entry and arrested 950 human smugglers and their accomplices since the beginning of this year, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic announced on Tuesday.



Bozinovic made the remarks during a tour of the state and external Schengen border along the Una River. According to Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), the minister said these operations have contributed to a roughly 40 percent drop in illegal migration at the border.



"Behind these results are people, good organization, and continuous investment," Bozinovic said, adding that around 500 million euros (about 561 million U.S. dollars) have been invested over the past decade to equip the police force.



General Police Director Nikola Milina noted that 6,500 officers are continuously deployed to protect the 1,350 km external border.