So far this year, there have been over 4.3 million crossings by road at border crossing points in the southeast. This is a more than a 10% increase over the number seen January-August of last year.
No increase in offenses
The record high traffic across the border has not led to an increase in criminal offenses or border rule violations. So far this year, only three forged passports carried by travellers have been discovered, along with two forged letters of invitation, and one passport that carried 22 forged entry stamps and that had also been modified in an attempt to remove evidence of illegal stays in the Schengen area.
Of the 30 criminal offenses investigated in August, 13 involved drunken drivers, one a drunken boater and 11 non-lethal weapons such as electroshock weapons and rubber bullets. Two cases of illegal border crossing were registered in August.
Border officials denied entry into the country at south-eastern crossing points to 80 people. The most common reasons for being denied entry was non-compliance with entry requirements and providing false information.
