A large-scale operation by Bulgarian and foreign services against illegal migration. An organized criminal group, part of a cross-border refugee trafficking channel, operating on the territory of Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Romania, France and the United Kingdom, has been busted, BNT summarized.
The operation is codenamed "Astia". It involves officers from Europol, investigators from neighboring countries, Border Police, GDBOP, DANS and the Burgas District Prosecutor's Office.
16 people have been detained. 9 of them have been charged, one of them in absentia, as he is in the Republic of Turkey.
It has been established that the criminal organization has carried out 17 courses with migrants from Turkey to Western Europe, documented by investigators. The price per person has reached 18,000 euros per course.
Cars, trucks and caravans were used to transport the refugees. The drivers had false documents, made specifically for trafficking.