71 illegal migrants arrested in joint operation of Interpol and Bulgarian police

Four migrant smugglers and 71 people have been detained in an attempt to cross the border illegally. The migrants were detained during an international operation of Interpol, codenamed Theseus. This was announced at a joint briefing of Bulgaria’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Chief Directorate for Combatting Organised Crime.

The joint actions of the special services of 8 Balkan countries, conducted between 9 and 16 December, saved 89 victims of human trafficking and led to the arrest of 72 suspected traffickers and 167 migrant smugglers.

Over 97,000 people and over 48,000 motor vehicles have been checked in Bulgaria. Nine Bulgarians have been arrested, wanted by the services and 14 other for drug trafficking. 36 kg of heroin, 1.8 kg of marijuana, 1.2 kg of methamphetamine were seized.

18 night clubs were checked, three of them were closed.

Counterfeit notes for € 260 thousand, 3792 smuggled cigarettes and 16 counterfeit passports were discovered.