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

UPDATED: Fireworks warehouse complex near Sofia bursts into flames; urgent evacuation ordered

A fire broke out in a fireworks warehouse complex between the town of Elin Pelin and the village of Gara Elin Pelin near Sofia, the BTA news agency reported. There was a series of explosions in the warehouses. The alert for the burning warehouses was..

published on 7/25/24 11:47 PM

Rain in eastern and central Bulgaria

On Friday morning, clouds will break and decrease over the eastern half of the country, but will close again in the afternoon, bringing rain and thunderstorms in places. Lows will be between 16 and 22°C, 16°C in Sofia. Highs will be between 27 and 32°C,..

published on 7/25/24 7:05 PM

Bulgarian scientists warn of rapid warming of the Black Sea

The Black Sea is one of the fastest warming seas in the world . By the end of the century, wind speeds in the region are expected to increase, rainfall is expected to increase and air pressure is expected to rise. The regions of Varna, Dobrich and..

published on 7/25/24 6:10 PM