Four migrants were found dead near the Slovenian border, and two others were hospitalized in serious condition after being transported by truck in "inhumane conditions," Croatian police said Monday.
The cause of death has not been released, but investigations are ongoing. Thirteen other people were discovered near the village of Donje Prilišće, about 70 kilometers southwest of Zagreb, and were taken to a detention center.
Police allege the group was dropped at the border by an unknown smuggler who fled.
Croatia, a European Union member, is a major transit country for irregular migrants seeking to reach Western Europe via the Balkan route. The route was declared officially closed in 2016 after an EU-Turkey deal, but thousands still attempt the passage each year.
According to Frontex, more than 12,500 people used the Balkan route in 2025. Since 2014, over 400 people have died or gone missing on this passage, per the International Organisation for Migration.