The US government, through the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), today completed a five-day border security training course with the Bulgarian Border Patrol Directorate General of the Ministry of Interior.
The training on the topic of "Tactical Stop and Trace on the Green Border" introduced twenty-three Bulgarian border police officers to American techniques for detecting and apprehending smugglers and illegal immigrants attempting to enter Bulgaria through uninhabited territories.
The course included hands-on training in tracking techniques, working with technologies for recognizing and intercepting pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and animal trafficking used in smuggling between border crossings. The training is another example of the United States' commitment to supporting Bulgaria's ability to counter the spread of threats along its vulnerable “green” borders, thereby enhancing security along the borders between Bulgaria and other Black Sea and Balkan countries.
H. Martin McDowell, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, thanked the General Directorate “Border Police” for the high level of participation in the program and the commitment to border security, stating: “Drug smuggling and illegal immigration harm communities in both the United States and Bulgaria. We are pleased that our partners in the Bulgarian government take the issue as seriously as we do and are dedicated to our common cause in addressing this critical issue.“
Luke Miller, regional attaché for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in Sofia, added: “We have worked excellently with the Bulgarian Border Police. We are pleased to be able to share practices that we use successfully to protect the integrity of the U.S. border, while also observing how our Bulgarian partners are doing the same here. Together, we are making significant progress toward our common goal — to protect our citizens from smuggled goods and prevent the spread of threats.“
Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Main Directorate “Border Police“, said: “In the context of changing threats at the borders, our joint work with the US “Customs and Border Protection” service is key to building more effective and adaptive protection. For the management of the Main Directorate “Border Police“ this training was another step towards upgrading the professional capacity of our employees through real scenarios, modern equipment and exchange of experience with proven partners. Securing our borders is a shared responsibility that requires trust, persistence and professionalism.“