3,600 Illegal Entry Attempts Stopped by Bulgaria in 2025

Jerusalem, 22 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – In the first four months of the year, 3,670 attempts by third-country nationals to illegally cross into Bulgaria were prevented. The prevented attempts in April were 28% more than in March, the Border Police General Directorate announced.

During the same period, a total of 450 migrants were detained for illegal entry at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. When implementing compensatory measures in the first four months of 2025, 169 third-country nationals were detained at the Bulgarian-Romanian border, and seven at the Bulgarian-Greek border.

The Border Police also reported that yesterday in the area of ​​the village of Krushevets, a Mercedes car driven by a 20-year-old man from Dobrich was stopped for inspection. In the car, the border police found three illegal migrants without identity documents. Together with the driver, they were detained. It was established that two of the migrants are from Morocco, the third is Algerian. A complaint has been filed against them for illegal border crossing, and against the driver – expedited proceedings for embezzlement.

Earlier today, the Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov commented on the protection of Bulgaria’s borders. He pointed out that serious work is being done on their technical provision. So far, the figures in terms of migratory pressure on the borders are very good and we are working with all our partners in the EU. The efforts are yielding results.

Mitov added that the ministry does not observe increased migratory pressure on the open Schengen borders.