Bulgarian Customs Seize Nearly 70 Smuggled Boats at Border with Turkey
In a bold move to combat illegal migrant trafficking, Bulgarian customs officers have intercepted close to 70 smuggled inflatable boats at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint since the start of the year.
At the urgent request of the United Kingdom, for the second consecutive year, Bulgarian authorities have been diligently monitoring and stopping these inflatable boats at the border with Turkey, which are used to transport migrants across the treacherous English Channel.
Over the past two years, nearly 200 hidden boats have been confiscated at the checkpoint, with the most recent seizure occurring just days ago when customs officers uncovered 20 boats concealed in a Turkish truck falsely declared as legitimate cargo.
“Upon inspecting the truck, we unearthed two pallets containing 20 large packages each, purportedly carrying tarpaulins. However, upon further examination, the packages were found to contain inflatable rubber boats with rigid sides and reinforced bottoms,” revealed Krasimir Chapkanov, Head of the Operational Unit at Kapitan Andreevo.
To evade detection by X-ray scanners, smugglers often mislabel the shipments as dense items like tarpaulins or tents, with boat engines transported separately to avoid suspicion.
These boats, manufactured in Turkey by unidentified companies, are specifically designed for the illicit purpose of smuggling migrants, lacking any official documentation, certificates, or warranties.
“These boats are solely crafted for this nefarious purpose,” Chapkanov emphasized.
“It has been confirmed that criminal syndicates engaged in illegal migrant trafficking across the English Channel utilize such boats,” highlighted Diana Markova, PR Expert at the Customs Agency.
To thwart the smuggling operations, Bulgarian customs officers have undergone specialized training and received advanced equipment. The UK has also extended financial support to aid in intercepting these boats before they reach the open sea.
“Furthermore, we have received a grant of 600,000 leva (€307,000) for equipment such as tools, endoscopes, gas analyzers, and lifting gear,” Markova added.
Countless migrants depend on traffickers to facilitate their journey to the UK from Europe. In 2024 alone, nearly 37,000 undocumented migrants arrived on British shores utilizing similar boats.
Tragically, many migrants perish during the perilous Channel crossing due to the substandard quality of the boats and the hazardous nature of the voyage.
According to a UK assessment, the collaborative efforts with Bulgarian authorities have saved approximately 6,100 migrant lives and caused significant financial losses exceeding €18 million for organized crime groups. — Euronews
