The migrant pressure on Croatia will remain the same after the closure of one centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the announced closure of another, although migrants are physically somewhat closer to the border, Assistant Police Director Zoran Niceno said on Thursday.

“Nothing is dramatic in terms of a threat to the Croatian border, but the situation is difficult for the people of Una-Sana Canton (BiH),” he said on Croatian Television, adding that the Croatian police, thanks to their detection and monitoring equipment, could respond in time.

Despite quarantine, 20,100 illegal migrants have entered Croatia this year, up 39% on the year, but Niceno, who heads the border administration, said the Croatian police had stepped up their activity.

“We are focused on border protection, but our second goal is certainly to prevent smuggling, in which we have excellent results.”

He said police were all over Lika-Senj, Karlovac and Sisak-Moslavina counties, where the migrant pressure is higher.

Citizens can feel safe because the police are on the border and closely following all that happens in BiH, Niceno added.