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Bulgarian police smash human trafficking ring

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Bulgarian police have smashed an international human trafficking ring which brought immigrants from Iraq and Iran via Turkey, into Bulgaria, the private Bulgarian television channel bTV reported on December 1 2010.

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Border police units from Elhovo and Rousse have arrested one Turkish national and three Bulgarians who are believed to be ringleaders.

Reportedly, the Turkish national (49) would gather potential immigrants in Turkey and would smuggle them illegally to Bulgaria, where they would be collected by the Bulgarians who would hide them in safe-houses. Once equipped with fake Bulgarian papers, they would then proceed towards other countries in the European Union.

On November 28, a police patrol from General Toshevo pulled over a minivan, driven by a Bulgarian with four people inside who were visibly foreigners, but provided Bulgarian ID cards. When questioned by the police, it was revealed that they were from Iraq and Iran.

The four immigrants and the driver have been arrested. Additionally, the police detained another 55-year-old Bulgarian, a native of Dobrich.

In a parallel police raid, officers arrested four other immigrants in a flat in Dimitrovgrad, aged 16-35. Finally a Turkish national and a Bulgarian aged 52, from Shoumen were also apprehended.

The immigrants from Iraq and Iran would pay up to 3000 euro to be smuggled through Turkey and Bulgaria onwards to other EU countries, the report said.

The investigation continues.

via Bulgarian police smash human trafficking ring – Bulgaria – The Sofia Echo.


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