On August 19, Bulgarian police arrested eight suspects involved in a migrant smuggling network transporting individuals from Turkey to various European destinations. The operation, coordinated by Europol, led to the arrest of four high-value targets believed to be leaders of the criminal activities.

The smuggling ring, which charged up to €6,000 per person, facilitated the illegal passage of over 130 migrants from Turkey through Bulgaria and onwards via the Western Balkan route to other European countries. Migrants paid around €6,000 to be smuggled into Bosnia and Herzegovina and over €4,000 for transport to Serbia.

During the operation, authorities raided 15 locations in the Plovdiv region, seizing 13 mobile phones, weapons, ammunition, and vehicle documents linked to the smuggling incidents. Europol experts, alongside Romanian and Moldovan police officers, provided support to the Bulgarian authorities.

The smuggling network operated with leaders from Syria and Jordan, coordinating with other smugglers along the Western Balkan route. Bulgarian nationals were responsible for logistics, including purchasing and registering vehicles under false names. Moldovan drivers, recruited online, were tasked with transporting migrants across the border.

Since April, 17 smuggling incidents linked to this network have been identified. One of the main ringleaders was already known to police due to previous investigations in Austria and Croatia. The operation highlights the complex, international nature of the smuggling activities, which involved crossing the Turkish-Bulgarian border on foot and using Moldovan drivers to transport migrants to further destinations.