TRAVEL REPORT The Hon. Michael Atkinson MP Attorney-General ...

illegal immigrants, mostly from Iran and Iraq . Only a very small number seekasylum in Croatia . Croatia has recently put in place a law on asylum andabout 10-20 people per year seek access .There is another group, from the 'far-east', mostly from China who used toenter through Belgrade because there were no requirements for a visa . Asvisas are now required the problem has eased .Illegal immigration is not a political issue within Croatia because principally thecountry is used as transit point . There is pressure however, from neighboursto deal with the problem efficiently . Italy is the destination for about 50 percent of the illegal immigrants . There is an agreement between Italy andCroatia and co-operation and communication between the policing authoritiesis excellent .The two main routes are across the Adriatic Sea and overland throughSlovenia . Good tri-lateral co-operation exists between Italy, Croatia andSlovenia, which includes joint patrols of the land borders . The land bridge isclosed, but trafficking across the sea routes is increasing . They were satisfiedwith the Croatian efforts in this area, but they were concerned about the searoutes and the direct ties with Albania and Italy .Mr Spudic also said that trafficking in humans is another problem whereagain, Croatia is used as a transit country . This problem has been identifiedas a pan-European issue . Evidence has been found about 28 victims in theprevious year and these were mostly people from the neighbouring countriesof the former Yugoslavia and the former U .S.S .R .The authorities are active in policing this activity and have established a newGovernment body to specifically deal with this crime . There is excellent cooperationwith the International Migration Organisation and various NGO'swhich are concerned with this crime . Other organised criminal groups dealwith high tariff goods, gas and other energy forms .A problem worth mentioning is the trafficking and smuggling of weapons . Tenyears after the War, many weapons are still held illegally in private hands .They are very much sought after in Western Europe by the full spectrum ofcriminal organisations . A trade has developed exporting weapons from thisregion and paid for with synthetic drugs, mostly made in the Netherlands .The most problematic drugs from a policing perspective are, Cannabis andsynthetic drugs, followed by heroin and then cocaine . Heroin is smuggledusing the 'Balkan' route from Turkey through Croatia then ending up inWestern Europe . In recent times the use of cocaine has increased as the costof purchasing cocaine on the street has fallen markedly . Through policeactivities, 350 kg of cocaine has been confiscated . Most of it was recentlyintercepted in a package originating in Venezuela and taken off a yacht in theIstrian Peninsula . Similarly, 85 kilograms of heroin and three kilograms ofamphetamines were recently intercepted before reaching the streets .Travel Report, Hon. Michael Atkinson, M.P. and Ms . Vini Ciccarello M.P., August, 2004 48