Bulgarian prosecutors charge six with human trafficking after abandoned truck discovery
Date
2/20/2023 7:55:09 AM
(MENAFN) Bulgarian prosecutors have charged six people with human trafficking following the discovery of an abandoned truck near Sofia on Friday, which contained the remains of 18 Afghan migrants who died of suffocation. The investigation revealed that the truck was transporting a total of 52 Afghan migrants who were hidden under wooden planks and covered by foil to avoid thermal-imaging technology. The migrants had arrived from Turkey via Serbia and were en route to western Europe. The surviving migrants were transported to local hospitals where all are reportedly in stable condition.
The driver of the truck and his companion abandoned the vehicle after discovering the migrants’ deaths. According to Borislav Safarov, head of Bulgaria’s National Investigative Service and deputy chief prosecutor, the driver ignored repeated requests to stop the vehicle, despite persistent banging on the cabin. Safarov described the victims' deaths as “slow and painful” and noted that the case highlighted the “extreme callousness” of the traffickers. He emphasized that migrants are often viewed as commodities to be transported rather than human beings with rights and dignity.
Human trafficking is a major problem in Bulgaria and other countries in the region, with many migrants being exploited and abused by organized criminal networks. The discovery of the truck near Sofia is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those seeking to escape poverty and conflict in their home countries. The Bulgarian authorities have pledged to crack down on human trafficking and bring those responsible for the deaths of the Afghan migrants to justice.
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