ZAGREB, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Croatian police announced on Friday that they had arrested 7,500 illegal migrants during the first 11 months this year and refuted allegations of human rights abuse in the process.

Among the arrested migrants, 979 asked for the international protection while others were sent back to the countries from where they illegally crossed the Croatian border.

Deputy Chief of Police Josip Celic said during a press conference that the number of arrested migrants so far this year is 66 percent higher compared to the same period last year. Police have also arrested 547 smugglers in 2018, twice more than in 2017.

"It proves that the Croatian police operates not only on the border but deep all over the country's territory. We are fighting against smugglers and organized criminals," Celic said.

Celic also declined allegations from some migrants that they were poorly treated by the Croatian police.

"Our police officers help children and adults who are in bad health. They give them water, food, and medical assistance. It is absolutely untrue that there is any brutality because any police officer who did that would be subject to disciplinary action and criminal liability. In case of defense, they are all acting according to the law," Celic said.

In 2015 and 2016, Croatia was part of the so-called Balkan Route through which almost a million migrants passed on their way to western and northern Europe. Enditem

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