site.bta32 Bulgarian Border Police Officers Posted to Aid Greece

32 Bulgarian Border Police  Officers Posted to Aid Greece

Sofia, January 31 (BTA) - The border police patrol vessel Obzor 525 has joined an operation in the eastern Mediterranean, the Interior Ministry said.

In December Greece asked the EU's Frontex Agency for support in view of the growing migrant pressure. Frontex decided to deploy Rapid Border Intervention Teams on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios, Kos, Samos and Leros, which are the worst hit by illegal migration, said the Ministry.

The Border Police Chief Directorate offered to send the Obzor 525 to help Greece, and in late December Frontex approved its participation with a crew of 20 on Lesbos. The vessel will be part of the Frontex operation until March.

In addition, Bulgaria will send ten border surveillance officers, one debriefing expert and one fingerprinting expert.

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The Interior Ministry said that 34 illegal migrants entering Bulgaria from Turkey were detained on Saturday.