Border police detained 19 Syrians and Bulgarians on 27 October in a raid on an organised gang that smuggled migrants, the Border Police Chief Directorate said. Four of them have been charged.
Investigators say the gang, active since March 2026, brought migrants into Bulgaria in purpose-built hiding places in lorries. The migrants were then housed in rented flats in Sofia and driven to Western Europe, hidden in compartments in cars and trucks.
The raid covered Sofia and Sofia, Pernik, Silistra and Blagoevgrad regions. Officers from the Border Police's illegal migration unit carried out investigative actions at five addresses and in two vehicles, and questioned witnesses. The Border Police director approved the plan for the operation.
The Border Police are leading the pre-trial investigation, which Sofia City Prosecutor's Office is supervising. The supervising prosecutor ordered charges against three Syrians with permanent residence status in Bulgaria and one Bulgarian. The charges fall under Article 321 in connection with Article 281 of the Criminal Code.
All four are being held in custody for up to 72 hours.
One of the organisers, a Syrian, has been charged in his absence because he is hiding abroad.