General Directorate Border Police

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.

There is heavy traffic at the Bulgarian - Romanian border and a 6-km queue at border cross checkpoint Danube Bridge - Vidin.

The queue of trucks at Danube Bridge - Ruse is 7 kilometres long, reported the press centre of General Directorate Border Police.

The Bulgarian Interior Ministry informed on Sunday that there was neither pressure at the country's border with Macedonia nor complication of the situation.

The General Directorate Border Police was exchanging real-time information with its colleagues at the border checkpoints in Macedonia, the interior ministry's press service informs.

Border Police detained 6499 illegal immigrants, citizens of third countries, as they attempted to cross into Bulgaria in 2014, which represents a decrease of 44 % compared to 2013.

This became clear after the General Directorate Border Police presented an account of its activity throughout the past year at the Interior Ministry on Friday.