Bulgarian authorities, in collaboration with Europol and several neighboring countries, have dismantled a significant criminal network involved in smuggling migrants from Türkiye to Western Europe. The coordinated operation, which took place on June 3rd, resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals, including a high-value target, across five major Bulgarian cities. The smuggling ring, composed of Bulgarian, Romanian, and Syrian nationals, primarily trafficked Syrian migrants through the Balkans, charging between EUR 7,000 to 8,500 for the journey to the European Union. The network utilized various modified vehicles, such as vans and trucks equipped with custom-built hiding compartments, to transport migrants without detection. Authorities uncovered the use of falsified documents, including fake driving licenses and vehicle registrations from multiple countries, to facilitate the smuggling operations. The group relied on the underground Hawala system and Western Union for financial transactions, highlighting the sophisticated methods employed to evade law enforcement. The operation was part of a larger investigation under a Europol-coordinated task force aimed at disrupting organized crime groups involved in migrant smuggling. The task force, based in Sofia, continues to target such networks, enhancing cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing among EU member states and neighboring countries. Post navigation UN Official Highlights Haiti’s Crisis Gaza Faces Alarming Food Crisis