On 11 November 2019, Director of Border Police, Zoran Galić, held a meeting of the Expert Board attended by, apart from Deputy Director, Fahrudin Halač and Assistant Director for Organization and Operations Dragan Kulić, also by chiefs of basic organizational units of BP BiH. They analyzed the Work Report of BP BiH, and execution of Annual Work Plan for the first nine months of 2019, with special focus on the migratory crisis.
From 1 January 2019 to 30 September 2019, crossings of the state border by 40 801 122 persons were registered, which is by 3.11% more than in the same period last year. Crossings of the state border by 16 643 651 transportation means were recorded. There were 2 019 nationals of 62 countries registered, who were not allowed entry to BiH. Compering to the same period in 2018 (1287), number of foreigners that were not allowed to enter BiH is higher by 732 persons or by 56.88%. There were 2 567 crossings or attempted crossings of the state border recorded by 1 316 persons who are in search databases on different grounds. During the first nine months in 2019, at border crossing points, officers of BP BiH apprehended 554 persons (450 persons that were found wanted by court or police authorities in BiH, and 104 persons wanted by Interpol).
Crossings of the state border by 423 361 persons from high migratory risk countries were recorded, which is by 19.76% more than in the same period in 2018. There were 3 679 persons detected in illegal crossing of the state border which is 8.40 % more than in the same period in 2018. Apart the above mentioned, during nine months of 2019, officers of BP BiH prevented/deterred 10 316 foreign citizens from high migratory risk countries to enter to BiH from neighbouring countries, where they were returned to. In accordance with the signed international agreements on readmission/admission of persons, 532 foreigners were admitted, which is by 20.91% more than in the same period in 2018. There were 413 foreigners readmitted from BiH. 655 BiH citizens from third countries were admitted, which is by 10.40% less than in the same period in 2018. There were 1 013 foreigners who were deported from BiH, or who left BiH willingly within the period of time allowed for voluntary leave. There were 19 visas issued at border crossing points, and 94 cases of visas annulment were recorded.
There were 215 official reports submitted to competent prosecutor’s offices, on criminal offences committed by 330 persons when the perpetrator is known and six when perpetrator is unknown. There were 52 (2018 – 39) registered criminal offences ‘people smuggling’ and four (2018 – 6) criminal offences ‘organizing a group of people or association for committing criminal offence – migrant smuggling’.225 documents suspected of being forged, as well as 61 transportation means were temporarily seized. There were 79 criminal offences in relation to narcotic drugs recorded and goods and money in the value of BAM 366 577.48 were temporarily seized.
Current migratory crisis was discussed at expert board meeting too. Director Galić said that all human resources and material and technical capacities of this police agency are directed at Eastern and North-eastern part of the country with aim to combat illegal migrations i.e. on prevention illegal entry to BiH from direction of Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as on prevention of all forms of cross-border crimes along the whole state border of BiH. Once again he underlined maximum engagement of current human resources and technical-material at Eastern and North-eastern part of border. He used the opportunity to thank members of BP BiH for their efforts regarding protection of the state border and urge them to improve interpersonal relations more coherent and to respect legal regulation, as well as to constantly implement standards and code of conduct stipulated by Code of Ethics for police officers. As greatest problem in further development of BP BiH, the lack of staff was pointed out, which is partly going to be solved by employment of 100 police officers who are currently at the training for cadets. At this moment BP BiH is understaffed by 389 police officers.
