site.btaBulgarian Border Police Chief Highlights Role of Successful Combat against Illegal Migration for Full Schengen Accession

Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police, Friday highlighted the role of successfully combatting illegal migration for Bulgaria's full Schengen entry. "I congratulate all those in our country who have worked towards our full admission into Schengen. Without the results achieved last year and this year, neither a political nor a diplomatic decision would have been possible to allow our full integration into the Schengen zone," Zlatanov said in remarks during a ceremony for the handover of 80 new high-performance vehicles to Border Police. 

The Border Police chief also acknowledged the sacrifices made by officers in the fight against illegal migration, noting that some have paid with their lives. "Thanks to their efforts, the route through Bulgaria has become increasingly difficult for illegal migrants," Zlatanov added. He went on to highlight a significant decrease in illegal migration, with a 70% drop compared to the previous year.

Zlatanov further reminded attendees that, since the beginning of the month, two organized criminal groups—along with their leaders, operatives, and accomplices—have been dismantled and arrested as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal activities and human trafficking.