In brief
On 26 February 2027, Bulgarian border police detained nineteen people connected to a criminal network that smuggled migrants into Bulgaria and transported them to Western Europe. Four detainees—three Syrians and a Bulgarian—were charged and held on remand for up to 72 hours under the supervision of the Sofia City Prosecution Office. The investigation, ongoing since March, uncovered covert compartments in trucks and hidden transport in cars and trucks, with arrests made at five addresses and two vehicles.
On 26 February 2027, Bulgarian border police detained nineteen individuals linked to a criminal network that smuggled migrants into Bulgaria and transported them onward to Western Europe, according to a statement from the Border Police Directorate General (BPDG).
The arrests occurred on Tuesday during a BPDG investigation supervised by the Sofia City Prosecution Office; five addresses and two vehicles were searched as part of the operation.
Charges were pressed against four of the detainees—three Syrians and one Bulgarian—who were remanded in custody for up to 72 hours. One Syrian national, identified as the mastermind of the ring, was charged in absentia because he is hiding outside Bulgaria.
The network, operative since March, used specially constructed concealed compartments in trucks to facilitate illegal entry into Bulgaria, rented properties in Sofia for accommodation, and then transported migrants to Western European countries in hidden compartments in cars and trucks.
After questioning witnesses, a report on the gathered materials was submitted to the supervising prosecutor, and the investigation remains ongoing.
