KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Bulgarian border police detained 35 people who identified themselves as Afghan nationals after finding them in a van attempting to enter the country irregularly, Bulgarian Interior Ministry said.
The migrants were found inside the vehicle near the border and detained, according to a statement reported by the state news agency BTA. The driver was identified as a 22-year-old citizen of North Macedonia.
None of the 35 passengers were carrying identity documents. However, Bulgarian authorities said they identified themselves as Afghan nationals.
According to the report, under a recently adopted law, migrants can be held for up to seven days at specialized screening centers along the country’s external borders before being transferred to migrant reception facilities.
Bulgaria is a major transit corridor for Afghan and Middle Eastern migrants seeking to reach Europe via Turkey. While few choose to remain in the country, it is frequently used as a gateway to other European Union member states. Thousands of migrants from Asian and African countries attempt the route each year, travelling through Turkey into Bulgaria and onward toward western Europe.
Afghans continue to leave their country in large numbers due to economic hardship, lack of employment opportunities, political instability and fears of persecution. Although some travel through legal channels, many take irregular and dangerous routes through Iran and Turkey in an effort to reach Europe.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), around eight million Afghans have left the country since 2020, with about one million reaching European countries, most via irregular migration. The IOM has also reported that at least 5,046 Afghan migrants have died since 2014, including many after the Taliban’s return to power.
Many of those attempting the journey face long and hazardous conditions along smuggling routes, including risks of exploitation, detention, violence and life-threatening situations, before they are able to seek asylum or other forms of protection in Europe.
