Police detained 15 people in Sofia and Pernik region on 29 October in a raid on a gang that investigators say smuggled illegal migrants through Bulgaria, from the Turkish border to the Serbian border. The interior ministry and the State Agency for National Security (DANS) announced the raid.
The National Police, the Border Police and DANS carried out the operation together. It is part of a pre-trial investigation overseen by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office.
Those held, both foreigners and Bulgarians, include an Afghan man whom investigators name as the main organiser, and two of his helpers. Three people have been charged: a 40-year-old man from Sofia and two Afghans, aged 33 and 23, who live permanently in Bulgaria. All three are to stay in custody.
Police searched 10 addresses and 5 cars. They seized firearms, mobile phones, SIM cards, radios, notebooks, money and a blue emergency light, as well as 178 grams of marijuana and 43 grams of cocaine.