People Smuggling Rings via Bulgaria 'Increasingly Active' - IntMin

Bulgarian Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova has warned of increased migrant smuggling activity through the country's territory.

She has made clear a special unit will be set up with the ministry she oversees to address the situation.

"[There will be a] center fighting smuggling and [dealing with] analysis, processing, recommendations and planning," the Bulgarian National Radio quotes her as saying.

Police operations similar to the one conducted earlier during the day in the area of the so-called "Ladies' Market" will be more frequent in the future, Bachvarova has made clear.

The neighborhood in question is known as an area inhabited by a number of migrants and thought to be a "center" of smuggling activity.

Her comments follow reports of increased migratory pressure on Bulgaria's borders.

They also come after a move from Serbia to set up a joint police and army force to curb the inflow of migrants crossing into its territory from Bulgaria.

But Bachvarova has noted that, in an earlier phone conversation on Wednesday, her Serbian counterpart informed her of a smaller number of migrants crossing into his country from Bulgaria as of the past days.

The necessary number of police have already been stationed along Bulgaria's borders, she has made clear.

FRONTEX staff from Poland are also set to arrive in the country soon upon Bulgaria's request, the minister has added.

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