site.btaProsecution Service Initiates Pre-Trial Proceedings for Criminal Group Transporting Illegal Migrants Through Bulgaria

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings for an organized criminal group for migrant trafficking, the service said on Monday.

During the investigation, evidence was collected against 16 Romanian citizens, including the group's leader. They illegally transported a total of 142 migrants.

With the assistance of Eurojust, a joint investigation team was established between the Bulgarian and the Romanian prosecution services. Following the court's authorization, the Bulgarian supervising prosecutor sent a European Investigation Order to the competent authorities in Romania, requesting the conduct of 13 searches in 11 settlements on the territory of the neighbouring country. They were carried out on November 21. Authorities confiscated a number of documents and other physical evidence, including electronic media.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, with analysis of the evidence collected on Romanian territory pending.