Slovenia has launched a border security operation and is significantly increasing the number of security personnel operating along its border with Croatia, as the number of illegal migrants coming along the infamous Balkan migration route has been going up.
The country has reported a sharp increase in the number of migrants attempting to illegally cross the Croatian-Slovene border in recent weeks.
The authorities attribute this to the relaxing of lockdown measures in response to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Greece’s transfer of thousands of migrants from its overcrowded camps on its islands in the Aegean to the Greek mainland as a social distancing measure, and the coming of spring weather.
As a consequence, Slovenia will be sending an additional 1,000 police officers to the border starting today to reinforce the existing security personnel.
They will be conducting an operation between today and June 5 to impose stricter controls over the border, and to demonstrate to migrants that Slovenia is not an easy target, according to a report by Slovene Nova24TV.