Two migrants attempting to leave Romania in an irregular way after the country’s full Schengen accession have been apprehended by authorities in the city of Arad.
The two persons, nationals of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, aged 47 and 24, were found travelling on a bus heading to Germany and were uncovered following an inspection by border police officers from the Nădlac Border Police Sector, Schengen.News reports.
During the control, a Sri Lankan citizen presented a passport issued by Sri Lankan authorities, which contained an expired Romanian visa. In the same vehicle, another individual presented a passport. Upon inspection, border police noted discrepancies between the person’s appearance and the photo in the document.
Through a press release, Arad Border Police said that both of them were taken to the sector headquarters for further verification.
The two foreign nationals are being investigated for attempting to cross the state border in an irregular way. Furthermore, according to a report from Romania Insider, the man from Bangladesh is being investigated for identity forgery.
Romania Became Full Schengen Member on January 2025
On January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the EU’s Schengen Zone.
The decision was confirmed at the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, held on December 12, 2024, following the approval of the European Union ministers.
EU member states have decided to remove checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania from January 1, 2025.
Romania and Bulgaria became part of the Schengen Area on March 31, 2024, but only partially by air and sea, while border controls remain to be kept in place.
Eastern Land Border Recorded 200% Increase in Irregular Border Crossings in 2024
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) revealed that in the first 11 months of 2024, a total of 220,700 persons attempted to reach the EU countries in an irregular way.
Frontex’s figures reveal that in the Eastern Land Border, there was an increase in irregular border crossings of 200 per cent in the first 11 months of 2024.
The Eastern Land Borders recorded the highest increase of 200 per cent to 16,530 arrivals this year.
The Eastern Land Border migratory route consists of migration to and through the following EU external borders: Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Hungary, as well as non-EU countries: Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
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