Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Police reveal horrific details of migrant deaths near Sofia

Photo: Archive

The secret compartment of the timber truck in which the Afghan migrants died of suffocation was meant for 25-30 people. Out of greed, the traffickers crammed in 52, Borislav Sarafov, director of the National Investigative Service, told a news briefing. 

They transported the migrants from the Turkish border to the border with Serbia. The traffickers were paid between 5,000 and 7,000 euros via the hawala system. The driver took 100 euros per person and the leader - around 1,000 euros per person. 

The 6-member criminal group prepared the hiding places themselves, lined with foil so that body heat would not be detected by X-ray. After Trayanova Vrata mountain pass, the traffickers heard a thumping sound, but did not stop. The victims suffocated for between 30 and 60 minutes. Outside Sofia, the pounding intensified. The drivers stopped. Seeing the suffocating migrants and understanding that there were casualties, they fled.

On Friday police in Bulgaria discovered an abandoned truck containing the bodies of 18 migrants from Afghanista, who appeared to have suffocated to death inside a secret compartment under a load of lumber.


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

The port city of Varna will see slightly cooler temperatures tomorrow.

Thermometer rising

Monday will be sunny and hot. In the east there will be light to moderate northeasterly winds. Maximum temperatures will be between 33° and 38°C , in Sofia - 33°-34°C. Over the mountains, it will be sunny and there will be a breeze from the..

published on 7/7/24 7:05 PM
Delyan Peevski

Delyan Peevski: Peevski-Dogan relations not on the agenda

"There is no, and cannot be, any opposition between Dogan and me," DPS Co-Chairman Delyan Peevski stated in a release from the party's press center. He added, however, that there was an opposition and a conflict: "The conflict is Peevski versus the fat..

published on 7/7/24 6:44 PM

Bulgaria's air ambulance completes first successful mountain mission

Bulgaria's air ambulance helicopter has completed its first operation in the mountains , interim Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov said. New delay expected for air ambulances for emergency medical services Responding to a signal from the..

published on 7/7/24 5:15 PM