Bangladeshis, Pakistanis among 96 stopped by Bosnia border police in illegal crossing attempts: report

Bosnian authorities have stopped 96 people from attempting to illegally cross the country’s state border in two separate incidents, the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina said.

The first attempt was stopped on Wednesday afternoon in Bistrica, where 63 people were intercepted, Sarajevo Times reported. They included 40 Pakistani nationals and 23 Bangladeshis.

Acting on the orders of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorities conducted an on-site inspection, seized two boats and identified two people suspected of involvement in migrant smuggling.

Officers later stopped another attempted crossing involving 33 people in Bistrica, per the Sarajevo Times. They included 18 Afghan nationals, 13 Bangladeshis and two Pakistanis.

The Banja Luka field centre of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs was notified, and the investigation is ongoing, the Border Police said.