BOAT BLOCKADE: Bulgarian Border Cops Seize 25 Inflatables Bound for Channel Smugglers

Bulgarian customs officers, with a little help from their British friends at the NCA, just put a major dent in the people smuggling racket. Twenty-five inflatable boats, destined to ferry migrants across the English Channel, were intercepted at the Lesovo border crossing last week. The first haul of five boats was nabbed on June 24th, followed by a bigger catch of 20 more two days later. If these boats had made it to the Channel, they could have carried over 1,700 people to UK shores. NCA’s Kenny Dron praised Bulgaria’s cooperation: 'This work is making life harder for the smugglers and saving lives.' The NCA has seized over 1,000 boats and engines since early 2023, with more than 500 in 2025 alone. Minister Alex Norris added, 'We are restoring order to our borders by disrupting these criminal networks.'