Eight charged from the dismantled migrant smuggling network

The prosecutor's office pressed charges against 8 people from the 17, who were detained on 24th of June for people trafficking.

The prosecution will seek remand.

The operation is a continuation of the large-scale operation Halifax of the European law enforcement authorities in 2017. The arrested are with temporary or permanent status in Bulgaria.

The international migrant smuggling network was involved in trafficking of migrants mainly from Afganstan to Western Europe. The route passed through Iran and Turkey. Two Bulgarians were involved, one Syrian national, four from Afghanistan and one from Iraq. The leader of the crime group is from Iraq.

The journeys to Western Europe, as well as prices, had been arranged in a shop in Kabul where a relative of one of the detainees lives. The payments were made under the Arabic "Havala" system, which relies heavily on trust between intermediaries and leaves no traces.

The prosecutor's office said the group wanted between 8 and 10,000 euros per person. They managed to smuggle between 30 and 40 people at a time. The Afghans entered the territory of Bulgaria mainly through the Maritsa River.

The investigation is ongoing. It is still not clear how many migrants were smuggled through the scheme.