Serbian Police Arrest 7 Smugglers, Find 3,400 Migrants and Seize Weapons in Week-Long Raids After Border Shootout

Week of escalated police operations follow a deadly border shooting, as authorities ramp up efforts to suppress illegal migration and ongoing violence along Serbia-Hungary border.

• Serbian police have arrested seven suspected people smugglers and uncovered around 3,400 migrants during a week-long crackdown on irregular migration, following a shooting incident last week along the Serbia-Hungary border that resulted in three migrant deaths.
• Violence and gunfights between people smuggling gangs have become a frequent occurrence near the Serbia-Hungary border, with migrants often situated in the area awaiting opportunities to cross into Hungary.
• In addition to the arrests and discovery of migrants, police seized weapons, ammunition, and hundreds of passports during the raids. A four-meter high ladder used by migrants to traverse the border fence was also uncovered.
• Serbia sits central to the Balkan land route for migration to Western Europe; the route starts in Turkey, moves through Greece and Bulgaria, and then branches off to North Macedonia, Serbia, or Bosnia.
• Hungary, which has a strong anti-immigration stance, has installed a razor-wire fence along its borders with Serbia. However, this has not deterred the proliferation of people smuggling gangs in the border area, often leading to violent clashes.

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