Joint Slovak-Hungarian police patrols to nab migrants

Slovakia offered Hungary cooperation in forming joint police patrols with respect to the influx of illegal migrants, confirmed Slovak Police Corps Presidium spokesperson Denisa Baloghova on Thursday.

"As an EU state and Slovakia's southern neighbour, Hungary is extremely burdened with the migration movements in question despite the fact that Hungary is only a transit country, with illegal migrants declaring an interest to continue in their journey, mostly to Germany," stressed Baloghova.

Slovakia offered Budapest help in curbing illegal migration on trains that service lines between Hungary and Slovakia and continue via the Czech Republic to Germany.

The first deployment of a joint Slovak-Hungarian police patrol occurred on Aug. 13, on an international express train, according to Baloghova. Three other patrols were deployed since then and a total of 71 foreigners were apprehended and subsequently handed over to relevant Hungarian police bodies.

Heeding the call of the Frontex agency to reinforce security of European Union outer borders, Slovakia has offered help and sent equipment and manpower to Hungary, Greece, Spain, Croatia and Bulgaria.

Source: XINHUA