Bulgarian customs seize 70 inflatable boats used for UK migrant trafficking
The boats are produced by unknown Turkish companies and are then sent disassembled in multiple shipments to avoid suspicion in what authorities say is for the sole purpose of trafficking migrants across the English Channel.
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00:00Almost 70 inflatable boats have been seized at the Kapitan Andrivo border checkpoint in Bulgaria since the beginning of this year.
00:09For the second year in a row now, Bulgarian customs officers, at the request of the United Kingdom, have been stopping inflatable boats at the border with Turkey.
00:18Those boats are used for trafficking illegal migrants across the English Channel.
00:30The boats are often delivered in multiple shipments, carrying different parts, and are then assembled together by the receiver.
01:00Bulgarian authorities say the boats are produced in Turkey by unknown companies and are used for the sole purpose of migrant trafficking.
01:09In 2024, nearly 37,000 people arrived in the UK using these boats.
01:15In a bid to control the influx of immigrants, London is funding Bulgarian authorities to increase the odds of those boats being captured before they ever hit the sea.
01:24In addition to that, we have provided 600,000 lbs in equipment, instruments, endoscopes, gas analyzers, equipment, etc.
01:39Bulgarian customs officers say their cooperation with the UK has saved thousands of migrant lives, who tragically die each year, while attempting to cross the channel.
01:49A UK analysis says Sofia's work has also enabled them to inflict over 18 million euros in damages on organized crime groups.
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