Exclusive: Routes for migrant trafficking through Bulgaria advertised on social networks (update)

Routes for migrant trafficking through Bulgaria are advertised and discussed in special groups on social media networks. On Facebook and Telegram, migrants post videos from various points along their route and recommend the services of certain smugglers.

With the help of an Arabic translator, we found out what other information participants in several trafficking rings exchanged during the last week of August.

"Under the leadership of the guide Abu Abboud, king of the forests, the forests of Bulgaria. Thank God, now we have reached the second loading," a man says in a social media clip.

Dozens of videos on a Telegram channel advertise the activities of various people who claim they can arrange the crossing of the Bulgarian border. The groups also post specific information about routes.

"After the support for the route through Greece was cut off long ago, we decided to stop working on it for good and concentrate only on the Bulgaria/Serbia route. Of course - for several reasons, the most important of which are the high percentage of crossings on the Bulgaria route..., and that the price is low compared to the route via Greece and the groups quickly reach Sofia and from there - Serbia," the post says.

Clips from various points along the route are posted. People can be seen in forested areas, packages of Bulgarian bread brand, footage from accommodation places and from car and bus journeys.

"We arrived in Sofia alive and well. Thank God, we tracked the points one by one and arrived alive and well," another man says in a video.

"Here, the guys from the group are on the bus, the direction is Belgrade, if God said so," another video shows.

The voicemails state that there is no way to give a 100% guarantee of a successful crossing. Migrants are advised to follow the instructions they are given:

"They say, there is tightened up control at the borders, shooting on people, or sniff dogs, there's no such thing - the dog thing they dropped it completely a long time ago. Things are normal and going. Anyone who tells you there's tightened up control on the Bulgarian border, tell them to their face they're a liar. Make him give you proof that there is tightening."

Today the Turkish pressure is such that the way through Istanbul is already more difficult than crossing the borders and walking on Bulgarian territory. The route through Bulgaria has a 70-80% passage rate, as I mentioned, even 90%, Glory be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and whoever leaves does not return."

Experts say it is quite possible that migrant pressure will continue to increase. One of the reasons is the situation in Turkey and the elections to be held there next year.

"Nobody is running away from a good thing. It is no secret that there are many groups, networks, smugglers. They are in Turkey and in Bulgaria and I would say even in Syria, where the Turkish authorities rule there," said Mohamed Khalaf, a journalist and university professor.

Experts say Bulgaria is not the migrants' final destination, but only part of the route.

"This is an organised ring that is not far from various intelligence services in various other neighbouring countries. They can't cross the border like this without coordination, cooperation and logistics from Bulgaria. A lot of money is involved," says Mohamed Khalaf.

More than $10,000 is the likely amount a single person pays to be illegally transported to his desired destination, the journalist further said.

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