35 Afghan migrants detained in vehicle in Bulgaria — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Bulgarian border police have detained 35 people who identified themselves as Afghan nationals in a vehicle in the Burgas region, the country’s Interior Ministry said. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), quoting the ministry, reported that border police in Malko Tarnovo identified and stopped a vehicle carrying irregular migrants. The driver, a 22-year-old citizen of North Macedonia, was also detained. The 35 migrants travelling in the vehicle had no identity documents, according to the report. Bulgarian authorities said the migrants identified themselves as Afghan nationals. Under new legislation, migrants may be held for up to seven days at special screening centres along Bulgaria’s external borders before being transferred to migrant reception centres, BTA reported. In mid-June, 32 irregular migrants and a suspected smuggler were also detained at the Poda checkpoint in Burgas.