Mayor detained for alleged involvement in smuggling of migrants

Bulgarian police has detained a mayor for migrant smuggling, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) sources reveal on October 20. According to the sources, the detainee is thought to be the mayor of Ticha, a village in Kotel municipality (South-Eastern Bulgaria).

The border police identified a van carrying seven migrants in the area of Malko Tarnovo. They were detained after a pursuit with the police. The officers noticed that the van was escorted by a passenger car, whose driver tried to flee.

According to BNT sources, it was later established that the organiser of the trafficking scheme was allegedly, the mayor of Ticha. The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Bourgas was notified. Charges were pressed against him and he was detained for 72 hours. A search of his home is currently taking place.