Two groups of migrants have been detained in the past week near the village of Voneshta Voda in the Pass of the Republic, Yanko Parvanov, Mayor of Voneshta Voda said for the BNR. 

The first group of illegal migrants consisted of 11 people. They were hiding in an abandoned holiday home in the village. The second group consisting of 5 migrants was detained on December 8 in the Pass of the Republic. In Yanko Parvanov’s words, the illegal immigrants were mainly young nationals of Afghanistan who were not aggressive, but were very hungry. According to the mayor of Voneshta Voda, a migrant smuggling route crosses the area. The police in Veliko Tarnovo has not yet provided information on the condition of the detainees and whether they were transported to some of the refugee accommodation centers in Bulgaria.