Minister of Interior to MPs: The money made by migrant smugglers far outweighs the size of fines imposed on them

The criminal groups are increasingly shifting towards migrant smuggling as a lucrative type of activity with lower penalties, caretaker Minister of Interior, Ivan Demerdzhiev said at a hearing before the parliamentary committee on internal security.

"Persons arrested for migrant smuggling on motorways are released the next day. Because of this, the penalties provided for in the Criminal Code should be increased," Minister Demerdzhiev told the parliamentary committee.

He pointed out that the tactics of the smugglers to transport people in luxury cars are constantly changing - small groups of people are transported and picked up 30 km away from the border. Most smugglers disobey police stop signs and travel at high speed.

"The Ministry of Interior is trying to counteract adequately, but there are no police cars capable of going at the speed of 240 km/h," the minister said.

He said the police chases of vehicles with illegal migrants are exceptions.

Demerdzhiev reminded that about 5 percent of investigations into migrant smuggling end in an effective sentences, and half of the pre-trial proceedings end in fines. He urged MPs to consider the tabled draft laws providing for harsher penalties for human trafficking. There are two drafts tabled - by the Ministry of Interior and the BSP for Bulgaria.

"The criminal profits from this type of activity are far greater than any fines imposed and this makes the fine ineffective. Law enforcement authorities treat this activity as one with less social danger, but this is not the case. The only way is to align the penalties with those in other countries so that there is no flow of foreigners coming to Bulgaria to engage in this activity," Demerdzhiev said.

He also requested additional funds for border security for bulletproof vests, night vision devices. Assistance from the EC has also been requested.

Public procurement has been launched and new uniforms for the Border Police are ready. They are to be distributed to staff.

A bilateral committee has been set up with Turkey to tackle the migrant problem.

The Minister of the Interior reported that since he has been in power, the Internal Security Service has operated 28 special intelligence devices compared to only 8 last year. This, according to Demerdzhiev, has yielded results - there have been dismissed or transferred employees of the Ministry and especially the Border Police.

Former Minister of Interior and current GERB-UDF MP, Hristo Terziyski, urged Demerdzhiev to check whether a deputy director at a Ministry's Directorate is assisting migrant trafficking. Demerdzhiev promised to check all deputy directors of directorates in the Ministry of Interior.

After the hearing, Minister Demerdzhiev spoke to journalists.

Another chase of illegal migrants ended with severely injured police officer and resignations in the Ministry of Interior

10 illegal migrants, 2 Polish nationals detained in a police chase on Trakia motorway

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