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

Trial of Bulgarians accused for spying for Russia continues in London

The trial of six Bulgarians accused of spying for Russia continues in the United Kingdom. The head of the "spy cell" Orlin Rusev and Biser Dzhambazov pleaded guilty. Three others - Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova and Tihomir..

published on 11/29/24 3:40 PM

Eighth failure of the parliament to elect speaker

Today's eighth attempt by the Bulgarian MPs to elect a speaker of the National Assembly also proved unsuccessful. At the beginning of the day, there was a ray of hope that this time the people's representatives would reach a..

published on 11/29/24 2:49 PM

A quarter of Bulgarians are willing to maintain friendships with HIV-positive people

Public attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Bulgaria show that a quarter of Bulgarians are ready to keep friendships with HIV-positive people, BTA reported. Men are slightly more tolerant than women (28% versus 23%). The data are from a..

published on 11/29/24 1:23 PM