Enterement and extortion: migrant life on the Bosnian border in danger!

Enterement and extortion: migrant life on the Bosnian border in danger!

On September 14, 2025, the 42-year-old Padam reports about a shattering experience: in the border region between Bosnia and Croatia, he was kidnapped by a criminal gang while trying to cross the border. Padam tells of severe abuse by his kidnappers, who held him for days and gave him no food. They even threatened to shoot him to blackmail ransom from his family. Ultimately, he was released after other migrants paid ransom. Many migrants in Camp Lipa and the city of Bihać report similar experiences.

The kidnappings away from the main paths have reached an alarming increase. Padam explains that he tried to get to Croatia several times, but without success. Migrants are kidnapped in remote areas where they find little help, specifically by groups like the BWK. This gang, which has been known for its criminal activities since 2023, controls numerous tractor routes in the region. According to reports, the masterminds of the BWK probably come from Afghanistan.

The problem of pushbacks

The situation on the Bosnian-Croatian border is also complicated by the practice of the so-called pushbacks. This practice describes state measures in which refugees and migrants are violently pushed back after crossing the border. Experts and human rights organizations criticize the legality of such measures because they often violate the European Convention on Human Rights. In particular, the Croatian border police are criticized for violent pushbacks, while reports on systematic violence against refugees have increased since 2022/2023.

The human rights organization Human Rights Watch emphasizes that EU migration policy destabilizes the border regions and promotes human rights violations. In particular, a sharp focus has been on deterrent since May 2024, which not only results in more deaths at sea, but also more illegal pushbacks. Asylum seekers are often attributed to countries in which Severe threatens you with human rights violations. The acceptance of public interest in these topics has led to many NGOs withdrawn from the border areas, which makes it difficult to document abuse.

Social effects and future prospects

The location in Camp Lipa remains tense. Padam also reports on an incident in which a man from Pakistan was killed. Refugees continue to report abuse by Croatian civil servants; In particular, a group of young Egyptian men described blows and the destruction of their mobile phones. Despite the adversity, Padam plans to stay in Bosnia until he has enough money to move on to Austria. Helpers of the Austrian NGO "SOS Balkan route" distribute clothing and food in the camp to help the refugees through the cold days.

Padam received a backpack and new shoes, but the future remains uncertain. The humanitarian crisis and violence against migrants at the EU external borders urgently require a value-based, human rights-based policy. The urgent need for action in European migration policy becomes increasingly clear in order to prevent further suffering and to maintain the security and rights of migrants.

For further information on the current events and the situation of the migrants in the region, you can report the reports from the Small newspaper, from Wikipedia and of Human Rights Watch consult.