site.btaCase with Truck with Dead Migrants in Austria Has No Connection with Trafficking via Bulgaria - Foreign Minister

Case with Truck with Dead Migrants in Austria Has No Connection with Trafficking  via Bulgaria - Foreign Minister

Sofia, August 29 (BTA) - The tragedy with the 71 dead migrants
found in a refrigerated truck in Austria has nothing to do with
the trafficking of people via Bulgaria, Foreign Minister Daniel
Mitov said in a TV broadcast on Saturday morning.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on Friday confirmed reports that
three Bulgarian citizens were arrested in Hungary after a truck
containing the dead bodies of 71 migrants was found on a highway
 in Austria.

Some sources reported different numbers of Bulgarian and other
detainees.

Hungarian police said those arrested were three Bulgarians and
one Afghan citizen, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting a
statement posted on the official website of the Hungarian
police.

All sources seem to agree that this is a case of a
Hungarian-Bulgarian criminal organization transporting refugees.

It is believed that one of the detained Bulgarian is owner of
the truck.

Mitov said that the case does not concern trafficking in people
via Bulgaria. "The people-smuggling networks have become very
extended and have developed their own logistics. This has become
 a horrendously lucrative business. The nationality here makes
no difference, and this is why the EU should tighten the
measures and punishments against such criminal groups," Mitov
said.

Mitov blamed the countries bordering on the territories taken by
 the Islamic State for not taking enough measures against
terrorist organizations.

He said more strict measures against trafficking in humans via
Bulgaria are being discussed, including prison sentences and
confiscation of property of public officials found to have acted
 as accomplices.