site.btaBorder Police General Directorate Reports 50% Increase in Migrants Trying to Cross Border into Bulgaria in Summer 2023 Y/Y

Head of Bulgaria's Border Police Directorate General, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov Monday presented a report-analysis of the Directorate's activities in 2023.

"We had an extremely difficult, but also extremely satisfying year," he summarized. The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, people's representatives and directors of services in the Ministry of the Interior.

Zlatanov said that the worst year in terms of illegal migration in the past decade was in 2015, and 2022 was twice as difficult. Data for the summer months of 2023 showed a 50% increase in migrants trying to cross the border illegally compared to 2022. "We had to deter 1,500 attempts to cross the border per day," Zlatanov added, reporting that there was a serious decrease in detained illegal migrants in the interior of the country in 2023.

Border Police data indicate that in 2015 the migration pressure along the Bulgarian-Turkish border was in the amount of 90,315 people, in 2022 - 164,536, and in 2023 - 180,512. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 there was a stagnation in illegal migration, while 2021, 2022 and 2023 saw a significant increase.

For the period from January 1 to February 15, 2023, there were 8,519 attempts to illegally cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border, while for the same period last year they were 3,023. Those detained inside the country for this period in 2023 were 640, in 2024, they were 189.

The director noted problems with the high percentage of job vacancies, over 700, and the need for border patrol cars, which are almost solved. Zlatanov reported increased interest in competitions for jobs in the Border Police.