Seven people have been detained within the framework of an international police operation coordinated by EUROPOL. The tension in the city was palpable as the news of the successful operation spread.
Bulgarian authorities, supported by EUROPOL, have managed to neutralize the activities of a criminal network involved in the trafficking of migrants. The criminal organization carried out its activities through the territories of Bulgaria and Serbia, with the final destination being countries in Western Southern Europe. The operation, which affected this international network, represents a serious blow against organized crime in the region.
The work on the case was initiated by the "Transborder Organized Crime" department of the GDBOP. The action was carried out yesterday, and its scope included the regions of Sofia, Stara Zagora and Vratsa. The operation was large-scale and required coordinated efforts from different countries. Officers from partner structures for combating organized crime from Romania, Greece and Moldova, as well as officers from EUROPOL, also participated in the action.
The operation regarding illegal migration was carried out within the framework of a regional operational task force (OTF ITER). It was created specifically to investigate migrant smuggling networks that use Bulgaria as a transit country. During the action, seven people were arrested, accused of participating in human trafficking. Among those arrested is a trafficker who held a high position in the hierarchy of the international criminal group. Six Bulgarian citizens and one Syrian citizen have been detained.
The investigation and police actions are led by a supervising prosecutor from the Regional Prosecutor's Office - Ruse. A case was opened in 2024, with the subject of the investigation being crimes committed under Art. 280 and Art. 281 in connection with Art. 321 of the Criminal Code.
Six of the detainees - five Bulgarians and the Syrian citizen - have been charged. Subsequently, they were taken into pre-trial detention.
During the investigation, searches were carried out in 11 properties and three vehicles. 13 mobile phones, SIM cards, car rental agreements, promissory notes and other documents that could be related to the criminal activity were found and seized. Counterfeit banknotes with a denomination of 200 euros were also found. 10 people were questioned as witnesses, who can provide key information for the course of the investigation. The work on the case continues, and the authorities continue to work to fully expose the criminal network and bring all those involved to justice.