Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office indicted eight persons as defendants after a joint specialized operation with the General Prosecutor’s Office on organized crime related to illegal migration

Today, 16.11.2023, the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office (SGP) prosecuted eight defendants for an organized criminal group (Art. 321, para. 3 of the Criminal Code) following a joint specialized operation with the Border Police General Directorate – Ministry of Internal Affairs (GDP) . The operation was carried out under the leadership of the SGP on 16.11.2023 in line with organized crime related to illegal migration.

The pre-trial proceedings were initiated on 25.08.2023 by a decree of the supervising prosecutor in the SGP based on materials received from the General Prosecutor’s Office. The supervising prosecutor gave specific instructions for its conduct, it was carried out by the General Prosecutor’s Office in joint coordination with the SGP, and in the course of it, sufficient evidence was collected within the meaning of Art. 219, para. 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for prosecution.

Two of the defendants have been charged for leading an organized criminal group of eight participants in the period from August 2022 until now, created with the aim of committing crimes under Art. 280, para. 2, item 3 and art. 281, para. 2 of the Criminal Code and for a selfish purpose – to derive benefits from the transfer of individuals or groups of people who are not Bulgarian citizens, across the country’s border with the Republic of Serbia, without the permission of the appropriate authorities and with the aim of procuring for himself or for another, property benefit, by illegally assisting foreigners to reside or cross the country in violation of the law. The two defendants gave orders to the participants in the group, secured individuals or groups of people who are not Bulgarian citizens, organized the receipt, collection and distribution of the funds among them and provided the means of transport, and one of the two leaders organized and directly controlled the transportation of illegal migrants through the territory of the country.

The rest of the accused were brought as participants in the same group.

Regarding seven of the defendants, the supervising prosecutor issued a measure of procedural coercion detention for a period of up to 72 hours.

The investigation into the case continues under the supervision and direction of the SGP.