A change in the routes and tactics of organized criminal groups for migrant trafficking is reported by the GDBOP. After the partial acceptance of Bulgaria into Schengen, the main migrant pressure has been redirected from the border with Serbia to the one with Romania. This was stated on the air of NOVA NEWS by Commissioner Kristiyan Goryanov, Head of the “Cross-Border Organized Crime“ department.
“If until a year ago there were a large number of migrants trying to cross the border with Serbia, now they are directed towards Romania“, explained Commissioner Goryanov. According to him, this is due to the changed method of border control, although it is not underestimated.
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The authorities' efforts to make it as difficult as possible for criminal groups have also led to an increase in the price of the service. “The more we make it difficult for the groups, the more the price of trafficking increases“, the expert pointed out.
The smugglers are becoming more and more inventive in order to avoid checks. “Specially built caches in motor vehicles have begun to be used more and more, and before that their number was relatively small“, revealed Commissioner Goryanov.
For the first time in our country, coordination has been established between several groups from different countries in a common network. In the latest implementation of the GDBOP, SANS and Europol, it became clear that the criminal structure interacts with other groups that continue the transport outside of Bulgaria.
Bulgarian citizens are often involved in the schemes. Their role is usually related to “short courses” - transportation from the accommodation to the loading point at the border, as well as accommodation and care for the migrants. The foreigners themselves - mainly from Syria, Iraq and Iran, stay in our country for a short time, with their goal being transit to Western Europe.