UK-funded drones are assisting authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in intercepting hundreds of migrants and smugglers attempting to cross into Europe via the Western Balkans. The advanced technology, financed by British taxpayers, enables the monitoring of challenging environments, including mine-infested forests, according to data from local authorities.
People smugglers have historically utilized the Western Balkan route to bypass detection, with some migrants subsequently traveling to Britain across the English Channel. The provided drone data contributed to operations that intercepted over 900 migrants and their facilitators.
In the past year, numerous individuals involved in human trafficking have been arrested in the region. One network, responsible for smuggling approximately 100 migrants to Europe weekly, was dismantled. Europe minister Stephen Doughty stated that the response to these criminal operations must match the borderless nature of people smuggling gangs. He emphasized the success of cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Western Balkan partners in apprehending smugglers and disrupting networks that profit from human suffering.
The Western Balkan route is commonly used by individuals from countries such as Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria, nationalities that are frequently encountered crossing the Channel. In 2022, the route saw over 145,000 crossings. However, heightened security measures have led to a significant decrease, with fewer than 15,000 crossings recorded in 2025, according to the European Union border agency Frontex.