Britain will give as a gift 40 Land Rover military vehicles to Bulgaria to help the Balkan country prevent irregular migrants from crossing its territory en route to Western Europe, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

However, the decision by UK Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, has drawn fire from human rights activists who claim that Bulgarian borders guards are mistreating asylum seekers, The Guardian said.

Fallon has said that the UK government would hand over the Land Rovers in May.

“The gift comprises 40 Defender Tithonus Land Rovers totalling ?443,000 including transportation by the civilian contractor,” The Guardian quoted Fallon as saying in a statement. 

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov took David Cameron to Lesovo checkpoint on the border with Turkey in December to see progress in the construction of a razor wire fence designed to prevent unauthorized crossing by migrants and refugees. During his visit to Bulgaria David Cameron said that he was greatly impressed by the efficiency of the country’s policing of its border with Turkey which also is EU’s external border.

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