On Wednesday morning, August 12, police in Novo mesto arrested 197 foreigners who had illegally entered Slovenia, along with two suspected human traffickers. The operation took place in two separate incidents. Earlier in the day, around 7 a.m., a citizen alerted the police after spotting a group of people exiting a truck near Drnovica, while the driver continued driving. Police quickly responded and stopped a tractor-trailer registered in Serbia, loaded with wheat. The 37-year-old Serbian man was detained, and the vehicle seized. On the broader area of Drnovica, authorities identified 69 citizens of Bangladesh, 28 Pakistanis, one citizen of Bhutan, and one from Nepal. These individuals were found hiding inside the truck and had expressed intent to file applications for international protection during the process. Later in the afternoon, around 5 p.m., another citizen called the police, reporting suspicious behavior by a van driver near Jesenice. Based on this information, police located and stopped the vehicle on Drnovica. Inside the van, they found 27 foreigners, including 25 Egyptians, one Turkish citizen, and one Russian. The 27-year-old Slovak driver was also detained, and the van was seized. Both drivers face charges related to illegal border crossing and will be brought before a judicial authority under criminal investigation. The incidents occurred within a larger context of increased border crossings into Slovenia. According to police data, in the first half of this year, 14,455 unauthorized entries have been processed, representing a 46 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Of these, 10,755, or 74.4 percent, were handled by the Novo mesto police department. The largest number of unauthorized entrants came from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Egypt. In both cases, police credited citizens for their quick reports, which enabled successful operations. Authorities urged the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities to help detect and prevent illegal border crossings. The police emphasized that public cooperation plays a crucial role in ensuring security and uncovering criminal conduct. The first incident began shortly after 7 a.m. when a citizen noticed several people exiting a large truck near Drnovica, while the driver drove away. Police immediately deployed units to locate the vehicle. They found a tractor-trailer with Serbian license plates carrying wheat. The 37-year-old Serbian driver was taken into custody, and the truck was impounded. Further searches in the surrounding areas led to the identification of 69 Bangladeshis, 28 Pakistanis, one Bhutanese, and one Nepalese citizen. All were found hidden in the truck and had indicated plans to seek international protection. The second incident occurred later in the afternoon when another citizen reported seeing a van driver behaving suspiciously near Jesenice. Police used the description to track down and stop the vehicle on Drnovica. Inside the van, they discovered 27 foreigners, including 25 Egyptians, one Turkish citizen, and one Russian. The 27-year-old Slovak driver was also detained, and the van was seized. The police confirmed that legal procedures against the driver would proceed, and the case involving the 25 Egyptians and other nationals was still ongoing. Authorities noted that the number of unauthorized border crossings has risen significantly over the past year. In the first six months of this year alone, there was a 46 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The Novo mesto police department accounted for the majority of these cases, handling more than three-quarters of all unauthorized entries. The primary nationalities among those caught included Bangladeshis, Afghans, and Egyptians. Police reiterated their gratitude toward the citizens who provided timely alerts, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance in preventing such activities. They encouraged others to remain alert and report any suspicious behavior promptly. This collaboration between law enforcement and the public continues to be vital in addressing the growing issue of illegal immigration through Slovenia's borders.
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