Syrian migrant smugglers sentenced after killing two police officers in traffic collision

The District Court in Burgas imposed effective prison sentences on Wednesday on three Syrians - Omar Adnan, Ahmad Mufid and Abdullah Abdulwahed (names might be misspelled), who helped 47 migrants from Iran, Morocco and Syria to illegally enter Bulgaria. The migrants were transported on a bus that on August 25, 2022, rammed into a police car in Burgas and killed the two police officers in it.

Adnan, who was driving the bus, received a prison sentence of 4 years and 10 months and a fine of BGN 11,000. Abdulwahed received a prison sentence of 4 years and 4 months and a fine of BGN 18,000. Mufid, who was under 18 at the time of the offence, will serve 1 year and 10 months.

The defendants agreed to all the facts and pleaded guilty to the charges at Wednesday's hearing.

The three Syrians were accused of human trafficking. Adnan was also charged with driving without a license and driving over the speed limit.

Adnan and Abdulwahed were charged with driving a vehicle, which had not been registered under Bulgarian law. The bus's Dutch licence plates had been issued for a different vehicle.

Some of the evidence during the trial included a documented conversation between two of the traffickers. While the vehicle was approaching a control check point at the city entrance, one of the traffickers ordered the driver to run the blockade, then told the passengers to hold on. A police officer at the check point signalled the bus to stop but was forced to step aside to avoid being run over. The prosecutor on this case, Hristo Hristov, described this behaviour as a clear sign of contempt for the law enforcement officers.

Adnan was also held criminally responsible for intentionally causing the death of the two police officers. The pre-trial proceedings, which are being conducted under the supervision of the Burgas District Prosecutor's Offices, are to be submitted to the Burgas District Court.