Border Police

On August 19, a major police operation aimed at dismantling an international migrant trafficking ring operating along the so-called "Western Balkan route" was conducted in the Plovdiv region of Bulgaria, BNT reports. This route spans from Turkey through Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania, ultimately reaching Western Europe.

There is heavy traffic at some of Bulgaria's border control checkpoints with Romania and Serbia, Border Police said on their website Friday. The information is valid as at 6 am.

At the border with Romania, there is heavy traffic for trucks  exiting Bulgaria through the Kardam, Oryahovo, Durankulak, and Nikopol checkpoints.

In a recent operation organized by The Directorate-General for Border Police, a significant development unfolded late on March 23 at the Gyueshevo border crossing. Two border policemen, aged 38 and 49, found themselves in custody following their apprehension by the Internal Security Directorate and Special Tactical Actions sector of the RDGP-Kyustendil.

In a significant crackdown on organized crime, Bulgarian Border Police have detained ten individuals involved in migrant trafficking during a targeted operation in the Burgas area. Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the General Directorate Border Police, disclosed the details of the operation to bTV on Wednesday, revealing that more arrests may follow.

According to the General Directorate Border Police from the beginning of the year until January 31, nearly 1980 citizens from third countries attempted to cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border illegally. This number is 69% lower compared to January last year when it was around 6380, as reported by the Ministry of Interior.

In a thrilling turn of events, border police successfully arrested a driver transporting two illegal migrants following a lengthy chase near Elhovo, a pursuit that ended with a brazen bribery attempt by the detainee.

A man's body was found after the floods in Tsarevo. This was announced at a briefing by the Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Burgas, Emil Pavlov.

275 illegal migrants were stopped today at the Bulgarian-Turkish border during a large-scale/specialized police operation.

"We have so far 13 groups. This is from 6:00 a.m. until now," announced Commissioner Ivaylo Tonchev, head of the Border Police Department in Elhovo.

Europol has supported the Romanian Border Police (Poliția Română de Frontera) in dismantling an organized crime group involved in migrant smuggling. The Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (Главна Дирекция Организирана Престъпност) and the German Federal Police in Waidhaus (Bundespolizeiinspektion Waidhaus) were also involved in the operation.

There is no change in Austria's position on the enlargement of the Schengen area. This became clear after the visit of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to the Bulgarian-Turkish border near Elhovo.

Austria will support Bulgaria's request for 2 billion, in front of the European Commission, to strengthen the security of our border.