STA, 19 August 2020 - Police last night caught 257 foreign citizens who entered Slovenia illegally and seven people smugglers, as part of enhanced border control in the areas policed by the Ljubljana and Novo Mesto police departments, in the south and south-east of the country.
Police said on Wednesday the purpose of enhanced control was to prevent and detect illegal crossings of the border in areas of the country most at risk of illegal migrations.
Apart from police officers from the two police departments, a number of officers from various specialised units took part, while police dogs and drones were also deployed.
The campaign targeted the areas near the border with Croatia, from which the majority of illegal migrants come, and with Italy, where many continue their journey.
Several large groups of migrants were caught, including 85 in Črnomelj area in the south-east.
The group, which entered Slovenia from Croatia on foot, featured 62 citizens of Afghanistan and 22 Pakistani citizens.
Another group of 48 citizens of Bangladesh was found in the same area, having entered the country in a van driven by a Ukrainian citizen.
Around the town of Cerknica, some 35 km south of Ljubljana, 42 illegal migrants were caught in a van driven by two Slovenian citizens.
The majority of the group (33) were citizens of Pakistan, five came from Afghanistan.
Nine Afghan nationals entering Slovenia on foot were apprehended in Metlika area, near Črnomelj.
With the help of two drivers, an Afghan and a Cuban, they were to continue their journey towards Italy in a car with Italian licence plates.
In nearby Kočevje, another three Afghans, who were transported by an Ukrainian in a car, were caught.
All seven smugglers have been detained.
Elsewhere in the country 35 more illegal aliens were apprehended last night.
The police released statistics for 1 January to 18 August showing 8,762 illegal crossings of the border were detected, down from 8,802 in the same period last year.
It said, however, that a rising trend in illegal migrations had been noticed over the past two months.
