206 illegal immigrants were detained at the border with Turkey for the period from January 1 to October 31, 2019. Their number is 184 at the border with Greece. The most common nationalities are from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, BTA informed, citing the Ministry of Interior.

Since the beginning of 2019, DG Border Police officers have prevented 2,122 attempts at illegal entry at the Bulgarian-Turkish border and 3,795 attempts at the border with Greece in the first ten months of the year, according to the Interior Ministry.

Asked if additional measures were taken in connection with the conflict in Syria, the Interior Ministry replied that security measures were being taken at the border with Turkey, which were permanent and not related to the specific conflict. The specialized police operation to counteract illegal migration continues.

The staff in the Malko Turnovo area has been beefed up with more officers and all-terrain vehicles as it sees the strongest migrant pressure on the border with Turkey. Permanent surveillance is done by the Trilateral Bulgaria-Greece-Turkey contact centre at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint.

One of the ways of border security and surveillance is to conduct helicopters flying at the Border Police Directorate's Special Airborne Squadron, which are equipped with surveillance systems. Manual thermal imaging cameras, portable surveillance systems and night vision devices are also used. Drones were introduced at the end of 2018, and new portable perimeter surveillance systems have been used since mid-2019 to secure high-risk sections of the EU's external border. New vehicles have also been delivered, the Interior Ministry notes.

For the monitoring of the Bulgarian-Turkish border, the Integrated Surveillance System (CCI), which was extended in 2019, is being used, the Ministry of Interior said, adding that more stationary posts for technical monitoring, mobile surveillance systems, perimeter signaling are being used. -security systems and sensor lines.

The Ministry of the Interior also has also approved emergency response plan as a result of increased migration pressure along Bulgaria's border with Turkey. It defines the actions of all ministry structures. Specific preparation and response activities by all competent state structures have also been prepared and scheduled. Estimates have been drawn up for the introduction of troops and equipment by the Ministry of Defense to assist the Ministry of Interior in border protection activities, the Ministry of Interior informs.

Responding to a question about the technical security of the Border Police DG, the Ministry of the Interior explained that post-warranty maintenance of the available border surveillance equipment and systems was provided, as well as the gradual replacement of some of the individual technical means of surveillance. Some of these activities are covered by funding and the other part is applied for through European funding.