Border police receive 10 mln euro in new equipment

Bulgaria’s border police have received new equipment worth more than 10 million euros under the EU’s 2021–2027 border management programme, the interior ministry said.

“Bulgaria and its border police are seen by our international partners as a positive example in Europe,” said Anton Zlatanov, head of the General Directorate Border Police.

The new equipment includes 30 off-road vehicles for transporting service dogs, five buses for shift personnel, and four specialised vehicles for transporting detainees.

The authorities have also received 187 short-range, handheld thermal imaging cameras and 24 long-range units to replace equipment that has been in use since 2006–2008.

Three unmanned systems comprising six drones will also be deployed as part of border surveillance efforts.

The equipment will primarily be used along Bulgaria’s borders with Turkey and Serbia to support the early detection of illegal border crossings.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova