During the first six months of 2026, the administration of the National Commission against Trafficking in Human Beings received 38 reports of suspected trafficking cases, the institution announced. Through these reports, 60 individuals were identified or informally recognized, including 17 children. In comparison, the total number of identified victims throughout 2025 was 89.
The Commission noted that the growth in labor exploitation is particularly evident. During this period, 23 victims of labor exploitation and 23 victims of sexual exploitation were reported. According to the institution, human trafficking is increasingly linked to promises of employment, better living conditions, and new opportunities for victims. Alongside this, the internet and social media are becoming vital tools for recruitment, building trust, and exercising control, the Commission explained.
Representatives of the institution noted that Bulgaria is increasingly becoming not only a country of origin but also a destination for trafficking victims. According to them, increasing labor migration creates new opportunities for abuse, especially when real working conditions differ significantly from those promised.
Men are falling victim more frequently due to the rise in labor exploitation cases—specifically in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics, the Commission pointed out. They clarified that this does not imply a decline in sexual exploitation, but rather a significant increase in cases of labor exploitation.
According to the Commission, the internet is changing how traffickers reach potential victims. Recruitment can now begin on almost any online platform—a social network, a chat application, a job site, or a dating platform. Children and young people remain particularly vulnerable. Perpetrators may pose as peers, friends, or future employers, thereby gaining trust and gradually drawing the victim into a risky situation. The development of artificial intelligence adds a new dimension to this danger, as fake profiles, images, videos, and voice messages can be created with increasing persuasiveness. Therefore, digital literacy and critical thinking remain vital components of prevention, the institution believes.
The Commission highlighted several warning signs. These include unusually high pay for minimal requirements, the absence of a written contract, and a refusal to provide specific information about the employer. Other red flags include insistence on immediate departure, pressure to make quick decisions, withholding of personal documents, restrictions on freedom of movement, and discrepancies between promised and actual working conditions.
Sexual exploitation is often preceded by the establishment of an emotional bond or psychological or economic dependency, where trust is gradually transformed into control. The Commission emphasized that human trafficking rarely begins with violence—in most cases, it begins with trust. Financial difficulties, the search for work, the desire for a better life, emotional dependency, or a lack of information are among the factors exploited by criminal networks, the institution noted.
The National Commission against Trafficking in Human Beings funds seven specialized support services for victims—four residential-type services and three counseling services, located in Varna, Burgas, and Sofia. They provide psychological, social, and legal assistance to those affected.
The Commission clarified that official statistics only cover cases that reach the institutions where individuals are identified as victims, while many cases remain unreported.
The data was released on the occasion of the official launch of the "Escape Room on Wheels Bulgaria 2026" initiative, which commenced at "Ginna Kuncheva" Square in Sofia. The project aims to prevent human trafficking. The first edition of the initiative was implemented in 11 cities across the country through 13 events, reaching over 1,500 participants.