Bulgaria is helping Britain tackle the immigration crisis by seizing boats used to traffick people across the Channel. Almost 70 inflatable dinghies have been intercepted by customs officers at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint since the start of the year. They are made by unknown Turkish companies before being disassembled into multiple shipments to avoid detection.
Diana Markova, the Bulgarian Customs Agency spokesperson, confirmed: “It has been established that such boats are used by criminal organisations involved in illegal migrant trafficking across the English Channel.”
This is the second year in a row that Bulgarian customers officers, at the request of the UK, have been tackling the issue of inflatable boats at the Turkish border.
During this time, nearly 200 dinghies in trucks have been seized. Just days ago, 20 were found in a Turkish truck declared as legitimate goods.
Krasimir Chapkanov, head of the operational unit at Kapitan Andreevo, said: “After opening the truck, we found two pallets with 20 large packages each, declared as tarpaulins.
“After opening the first package, we discovered inflatable rubber boats with rigid sides and reinforced bottoms.”
Labelling goods are tarpaulins often allows them to avoid detection by X-ray scanners, as well as sending the boat engines in separately deliveries.
Chapkanov explained: “They have no documents, no certificates, no warranties. They are made solely for this purpose.”
Bulgarian customs officers have been given specialist training and new equipment, while Britain has provided them with funds to help seize the boats.
Markova added: “In addition, we received a grant of 600,000 lev (£265,000) in equipment – tools, endoscopes, gas analysers, and lifting gear.”
The cooperation between the countries has reportedly saved at least 6,100 migrants’ lives and cost organised crime groups £15.5 million.
