site.btaSix Detained for Human Trafficking in International Operation

Six Detained for Human Trafficking in International Operation

Sofia, October 7 (BTA) - Operatives from Bulgaria's Chief Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (CDCOC) have detained six members of a criminal group during an international police operation against human trafficking, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry said Friday.

A joint team of police officers from Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Belgium investigated an organised criminal group engaged in recruiting and trafficking women for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

In late September, under the guidance of the prosecution authorities, operatives from the CDCOC and the territorial units in Sliven, Yambol, Stara Zagora and Plovdiv alongside operatives from partner agencies executed an international police operation. It resulted in the arrest in Amsterdam of the leader of the organised criminal group and that of two of its members.

In Bulgaria, a total of six were detailed in Sliven and Stara Zagora. Around 142,000 euro, 48,000 leva as well as amounts of British pounds and US dollars have been seized as have various quantities of drug substances, documents related to the criminal activities of the group, laptops, flash drives, mobile phones and SIM cards, luxury cars and other relevant items.