In brief
The Bulgarian Border Police detained 19 people linked to a criminal network that smuggles migrants through Bulgaria to Western Europe. Four suspects, including three Syrians and one Bulgarian, were charged and held for up to 72 hours, while the ring’s mastermind remains fugitively abroad. The investigation, led by the Sofia City Prosecution Office, uncovered hidden compartments in trucks, rented housing in Sofia, and onward transport routes.
On 26 February 2027, the Bulgarian Border Police in Sofia detained 19 members of a criminal network that has facilitated the illegal entry of migrants into Bulgaria and their transport to Western Europe.
Four of the detainees—three Syrians and one Bulgarian—were formally charged and remanded in custody for up to 72 hours, according to the Border Police Directorate General (BPDG).
A Syrian national identified as a mastermind of the ring was charged in absentia because he is hiding outside Bulgaria.
Investigators say the smuggling operation has been active since March and uses specially constructed concealed compartments in trucks for the initial entry into Bulgaria.
After landing, migrants were placed in rented apartments in Sofia before being moved to hidden compartments in cars and trucks that take them toward Western European destinations.
The BPDG searched five addresses and two vehicles, gathered evidence, and questioned witnesses before submitting a report to the supervising Sofia City Prosecution Office.
Not all 19 suspects have been charged; the ongoing investigation is expected to broaden the scope as additional evidence surfaces.
Officials stressed that the smuggling network poses a serious risk to national security and public safety by enabling undocumented migration and facilitating cross‑border crime.
The case remains active, with authorities continuing to coordinate with prosecutors and other agencies to dismantle the network and prevent further illegal movements.
