Concerns Mount As Human Smugglers Are Once Again Active Along Hungary's Border

The Hungary-Serbia border sees a resurgence in migration. To prevent the situation from becoming tragic again, the continuous presence of Serbian law enforcement would be needed, according to an analysis by the Migration Research Institute forwarded to Magyar Nemzet. Human smugglers are staying in the forests again, but their movements are restricted to nighttime hours, according to the researchers' source.

Human smugglers are in the forests again

The Migration Research Institute’s Serbian source confirmed that the flow of migrants has been continuous since 2024. Human smugglers are staying in the forests again, but their movements are restricted to nighttime hours. The source also noted that the presence of Serbian law enforcement agencies has once again diminished.

Their informant, who regularly visits the forests surrounding Subotica as part of his daily work, has firsthand knowledge of the temporary shelters used by illegal migrants and their migration routes.

"Despite the decline, the Western Balkan migration route remains active. The more than 21,000 border violations recorded last year are still a significant number. On this route, migrants continue to travel partly through Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach their Western European destinations. However, to prevent a resurgence of traffic along the route through Hungary, the continuous presence of Serbian law enforcement would again be necessary," the researchers concluded.

Cover photo: Illustration (Photo: Nur Photo/Guillaume Pinon)