site.bta10,406 Third-country National Detained at Bulgarian-Turkish Border in 2015

10,406 Third-country National Detained at Bulgarian-Turkish Border in 2015

Sofia, March 2 (BTA) - A total of 10,406 national of third countries were detained at the Bulgarian-Turkish border in 2015, reads a report of the Border Police Chief Directorate (BPCD) for last year quoted by the BPCD press centre. They were 73 per cent up compared to 2014.

The highest number of illegal aliens came from Syria - 5,331, Iraq - 2,481, Afghanistan - 2,132, Pakistan - 216, Iran - 63, etc.

A total of 467 illegal migrants were detained at the boder with Greece, 43 per cent up compared to 2014.

In 2015, 11,805 nationals from third countries were prevented from leaving illegally the country, which is almost four times their number in 2014. The highest number of attempted illegal crossings of the frontier were reported at the Bulgarian-Serbian border, where a total of 11,012 persons were detained, almost six times more compared to 2014.

A total of 408 investigations for smuggling were carried out last year and 507 persons were held criminally liable.

The foreigners having breached the border regulations and having requested protection under the Asylum Act were 4,751, of whom 441 filed applications at the checkpoints. Most of them were nationals of Syria - 2,526, Iraq - 1,397, Afghanistan - 751, Pakistan - 63, etc. A total of 2,405 denials for entering the country were issued to third-country nationals in 2015.

5,554 persons and 190 vehicles, declared wanted, were caught at the checkpoints.