site.btaMigrant Pressure 10 Times Lower Compared to Summer 2024, Says Border Police Director

Migrant pressure is now ten times lower compared to July and August last year, the Director of the Border Police, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov told journalists on Friday. He announced that the Bulgarian border with Turkiye will be fully equipped with video surveillance and anti-drone systems by the end of 2026.  

Chief Commissioner Zlatanov, together with Prime Minister Zhelyazkov and Interior Minister Mitov, attended the inauguration of a newly built nearly 5-km stretch of sensor line with 101 video cameras near the village of Krainovo, along the border with Тurkiye.   

By contract, the deadline for building the two systems is four years—2025 to 2029—but our ambition is to complete them by the end of 2026, since this is in both in Bulgarian and European interests, noted Zlatanov.  

“In the past 24 hours, we prevented 39 attempted crossings. On September 5 last year, the number was 264, and in 2023—it was 1,260. You can see the difference for yourselves,” said the Border Police Director.  

The staffing process in the Border Police is progressing successfully too, the Chief Commissioner said. In the first competition for 400 positions, 2,600 candidates applied and the new recruits are now midway through their training. In the latest competition for the same number of positions, 1,600 candidates have applied and are undergoing physical and psychological tests. He believes that within three to four years, all positions will be filled. 

Chief Commissioner Zlatanov emphasized that, in addition to human resources, investments are being made in equipment modernization. By the end of 2026, the entire 271-km Bulgarian-Turkish border will be equipped not only with a fence but also with video surveillance, radar systems, and anti-drone protection. This will ensure control over the airspace up to 3,000 meters, which is currently not monitored.