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

Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia.

Rain and strong winds towards the end of the week

On Friday, lows will be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius , 13°C in Sofia. Maximum temperatures will be between 26 and 31°C, 28° in the capital. During the day it will be sunny in central and eastern Bulgaria. In the west, there will be clouds and after..

published on 10/3/24 7:05 PM

Bulgaria faces referral to the ECJ for failing to comply with three procedures

The European Commission has formally warned Bulgaria, Estonia and Ireland to properly implement EU laws against racism and xenophobia, reports BNR correspondent Angelina Piskova. In its letter of formal notice, the European Commission says the three..

published on 10/3/24 4:59 PM
On February 1, 2024 the first helicopter of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service arrived in Bulgaria.

Delivery of two medical helicopters delayed until next year

There is a further delay in the delivery of the next two air ambulances to Bulgaria, the Italian manufacturer has said in a letter to the Ministry of Health. In the letter, the contractor, Leonardo S.p.A., set new deadlines for the arrival of the..

published on 10/3/24 3:30 PM