Police arrested six illegal migrants in the Siroki Brijeg area of southern Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday evening after they had stolen a vehicle in Mostar in an attempt to cross the border with Croatia and continue their journey to western Europe.

The Western Herzegovina Canton police said on Monday that a vehicle without a registration plate carrying six people had been stopped during a routine check. As soon as the vehicle pulled over, the people fled to a nearby forest. After a short search, police found them and took them to the police station in Siroki Brijeg. It was established that the people were illegal migrants from Morocco.

Since the measures on the border with Croatia in the northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been tightened, migrants are trying to cross the border in the south of the country.

According to the police press release, illegal migrants stole a vehicle in Mostar earlier in the day on Sunday. In the evening, they were handed over to the Mostar police who continued to investigate the theft of the vehicle.