Large-scale operation against migrant trafficking uncovers criminal group with international reach

Operation "Astiya", carried out on June 3 by employees of the Main Directorate "Border Police" and the Main Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" of the Ministry of Interior, led to the detention of 16 participants in an organized criminal group engaged in the trafficking of illegal migrants. The police actions were carried out with the assistance of the State Agency for National Security, with the permission of the Burgas District Court and under the supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office - Burgas. The operation was coordinated by Europol and employees from Greece and Romania also participated.

The investigation found that the criminal group consisted of Romanian, Bulgarian and Syrian citizens who were carrying out the trafficking, transportation, accommodation and smuggling of illegal migrants out of the country. For this purpose, specially built hiding places were used in various vehicles - trucks, minibuses, cars, caravans and trailers with Bulgarian and foreign registration. It was established that the participants with a leading role in the group have a rich criminal past and numerous convictions for crimes related to the trafficking of migrants, drugs and forged documents in several European countries.

According to the collected information, the group was transporting between 3 and 30 migrants per trip, with the price varying from 5,000 to 18,000 euros per person, depending on the final destination - Greece, United Kingdom, Romania or the interior of Bulgaria. For the period from June 2024 to the present, 17 cases of trafficking have been proven, and the total financial resources of the group are estimated at around 200,000 euros, with estimated earnings of millions of euros.

All 16 identified traffickers have been detained, with 9 of them - 7 Bulgarian and 2 foreign citizens - being charged under Article 321, paragraph 6 of the Penal Code. Some of them have already been convicted of crimes related to the trafficking of migrants, drugs and forged documents. Evidence has been collected in the case, identifications have been made and expert opinions have been ordered, and during the searches, mobile devices, license plates, cash and documents proving the committed crimes have been seized.

The efforts of the Bulgarian Border Police and other law enforcement agencies to counter organized cross-border crime have been highly appreciated at a briefing at the Europol headquarters in The Hague. At the moment, the green border is calm and well-equipped, assured the Deputy Director of the General Directorate "Border Police".