site.bta23 Illegal Migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan Detained at Bulgarian-Greek Border

Kapitan Petko Voyvoda Border Checkpoint, June 3 (BTA) - A group of 23 illegal migrants from Pakistan and Afghanistan were detained Saturday during a specialized police operation at the Bulgarian-Greek border, said here at a news conference Sunday Border Police Director Svetlan Kichikov. The migrants were discovered in a specially built secret compartment in a Bulgarian-registered truck, driven by a Bulgarian national.

The truck was pulled over on the road between the southern towns of Ivaylovgrad and Lyubimets. It was established that the migrants, who are all males, had crossed the green border from Greece, Kichikov explained, adding that they had paid to be trafficked into France.

The specialized operation at the border was launched following an analysis on the situation in Greece, the Border Police chief said, explaining that it was carried out by the Border Police and invloves more stringent checks of vehicles crossing the border.

The truck driver was detained and is currently awaiting charges. A second person was also arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice.