Bulgaria: National campaign to crack down on illegal immigration launched

THE Bulgaria has launched a national campaign to suppress it illegal immigrationInterior Minister Ivan Demerjiev said on Monday (16/1) while speaking to the media, adding that the campaign was planned a long time ago.

The General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and the Border Police have already reported successful actions, Demerjiev said. “Major migrant smuggling groups have been affected. The operation will continue in the coming days in Turkey as well as in Bulgaria”he added.

According to the minister, similar actions are planned with Greece. “Interaction is the only way to respond to cross-border crime”he emphasized.

Gesev thanked prosecutors and investigators across Bulgaria, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the hundreds of police officers for the good work they did in organizing the campaign and for their professional interaction.

By order of the Attorney General, searches and seizures of addresses and vehicles of persons suspected of trafficking were carried out throughout the country yesterday Monday (16/1). The operation was carried out by officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the General Directorate of the National Police, the General Directorate of the Border Police, the Sofia Interior Directorate, the Gendarmerie Directorate as well as officers from the State National Security Service, the spokeswoman said today of the general prosecutor Sika Mileva during a press briefing.

The object of the investigation is the alleged organizers from the Bulgarian side of large human trafficking networks from Turkey, through Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania to the countries of central and western Europe. The persons being investigated allegedly organized the transport by recruiting the drivers. People suspected of providing temporary accommodation to migrants are also being investigated.