More than 17 arrested in Sofia for migrant trafficking

More than 17 people have been detained in a specialised operation against illegal trafficking of migrants in Sofia, Yambol and Bourgas, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev announced on 24th of June. Today's actions are a continuation of the large-scale operation Halifax of the European Police Service in 2017.

Most of the arrested are from Iraq and Afghanistan, they have temporary or permanent residency status in Bulgaria. Allegedly, they were mainly involved in migrant trafficking from Afghanistan to Western Europe.

The migrants' route passed through Iran and Turkey. The migrant trafficking ring had premises in Svilengrad and the capital districts of Fakulteta and Orlandovtsi, where migrants were temporarily accommodated.

The prosecutor's office said this was the largest migrant trafficking ring detained on Bulgarian territory so far.