It’s published
•update
Nearly 70 smuggled inflatable boats have been seized at Bulgaria’s Kapitan Andrevo border crossing since the beginning of this year.
For the second year in a row, at the UK’s request, Bulgarian customs officials have stopped inflatable boats at the border with Turkey, used to traffic illegal migrants across the English Channel.
Nearly 200 boats hidden in trucks have been seized at checkpoints over the past two years. The latest incident happened a few days ago when customs officials discovered 20 dinghy in a Turkish truck that had been declared a legitimate good.
“After opening the truck, I found two pallets with 20 large packages each declared Tarporin. After opening the first package, I discovered an inflatable rubber boat with rigid sides and reinforced bottoms.”
To avoid detection by x-ray scanners, smugglers often label the transport as a tarpaulin, tent, or other dense item. The boat’s engines move separately to further reduce doubt.
The boats are produced in Turkey by unknown companies and are used for the sole purpose of migrant trafficking, according to authorities.
UK providing funding and training
“They have no documents, no certificates, no guarantees, they are made for this purpose only,” added Chapkanov.
“It has been established that such boats will be used by criminal organizations involved in trafficking illegal immigrants across the UK Channel,” said Diana Markova, a spokesman for the Bulgarian Customs Agency.
To stop the smuggling, Bulgarian customs officials received specialized training and received new equipment. The UK is also providing funds to Bulgarian authorities to help them catch those boats before they attack the sea.
“We also received 600,000 refs (307,000 euros) of equipment, including tools, endoscopes, gas analyzers, and lifting gear,” added Markova.
Hundreds of migrants rely on human traffickers to attempt to reach the UK from Europe. In 2024, almost 37,000 undocumented immigrants arrived on the British coast using similar boats.
However, many die along the way due to the poor quality of the boat and the rough nature of the journey across the channel.
According to a UK analysis, the collaboration with Bulgarian authorities saved the lives of at least 6,100 migrants and caused more than 18 million euros to organized crime groups.
Additional sources •EBU
