25 illegal migrants detained at Bulgaria’s border with Turkey

Border police from Elhovo Police Department detained a smuggler with 12 illegal immigrants in the area of Topolovgrad, Southern Bulgaria. On July 31, the border police and gendarmerie officers stopped Iveco freight van for inspection. The driver was a 60-year-old man from Lyubimets. Durind a search of the vehicle, the police found 12 illegal, undocumented male migrants claiming to be from Afghanistan. They were detained together with the driver at the Elhovo Police Department.

Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated against the driver for human smuggling and 12 fast-track proceedings against the migrants for illegal crossing of the border. The proceeding is under the supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office - Yambol.

On July 31, on the main road I-9, between the villages of Krushevets and Marinka, Bourgas district, border police officers from Malko Turnovo Police Department and gendarmerie officers inspected a Mercedes lorry with a 53-year-old driver from Sofia. 13 illegal migrants without identity documents, citizens of Iraq and Syria, were identified and detained along with the driver.

With a decree of the District Prosecutor's Office - Bourgas, the 53 year old driver was charged with assisting illegal migrants.

All 25 illegal immigrants were handed over to the specialized home for temporary accommodation of foreigners in Lyubimets.