SOFIA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian customs officers have intercepted 11 inflatable boats suspected of being intended for the trafficking of illegal immigrants to Britain, officials said Friday.
The boats were discovered at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the border with Türkiye, hidden inside a semi-trailer registered in Türkiye. The vehicle arrived late Monday night, and its Turkish driver presented documents for cargo reportedly bound for Britain.
After a risk assessment, the vehicle was subjected to thorough inspection using X-ray equipment, which revealed irregularities. A physical search uncovered 11 packages containing inflatable boats with rigid hulls.
According to the National Customs Agency, such vessels are frequently used to transport illegal immigrants across the English Channel from the European Union to Britain.
The agency emphasized ongoing efforts to prevent the smuggling of inflatable boats and related equipment, which are often low-quality, overloaded, and responsible for numerous fatal accidents involving illegal immigrants. ■
