Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Prosecutor's Office: Migrants pay up to EUR 10,000 per person to get transferred illegally across the Bulgarian border

Siyka Mileva
Photo: BGNES-archive

The standard fee for smuggling a migrant from Turkey to Serbia through the territory of Bulgaria ranges from EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000. However, when a “VIP service” is provided (when the group is small - five or six people), the fee may rise to EUR 10,000 per person. Payment is made when the leading organiser confirms that the migrants have crossed into Serbia, Bulgaria’s Prosecutor's Office, the country's Ministry of the Interior and the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime announced at a briefing, summarising the results of the operation against illegal migration. The operation dubbed Hawala took place on the entire territory of Bulgaria and in neighbouring Turkiye. 

According to the Prosecutor's Office, 92 people have been indicted for organizing and facilitating illegal migration. 6 people were detained, including one Lebanese, one Iraqi national and 4 Bulgarians. Increasingly often, traffickers are escorted by pilot cars driven by women to avoid arousing suspicion.  



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian media from 25 countries to gather in Sofia on 24 May

For the past two decades, Bulgarian media outlets based abroad have gathered at an annual event organised by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA). This year marks the 20th edition of the event, known as the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, which will..

published on 5/23/25 5:19 PM
Ministers of Tourism of Bulgaria Miroslav Borshosh (R) and Tonci Glavina meet in in Zagreb.

The Bulgarian tourism sector is all set for the adoption of the euro, Minister Borshosh says

Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh held a working meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Tonci Glavina, in Zagreb this week , the Ministry of Tourism announced today.  The conversation focused on the potential advantages of adopting the euro for..

published on 5/23/25 4:38 PM
Bulgarian President Ruman Radev

President refers rejected euro referendum request to Constitutional Court

President Rumen Radev today referred a rejected proposal for a national referendum on adopting the euro to the Constitutional Court. He is seeking a binding interpretation of the Constitution, as well as the annulment of National Assembly Chairwoman..

published on 5/23/25 4:27 PM