In Toulouse, the dismantling of a Turkish-Bulgarian network of assistance for illegal residence
In all, these are 15 people who were arrested between February and June 2022 in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Marseilles. Turks and Bulgarians involved in this vast and lucrative network which allows these smugglers and manufacturers of false papers to illegally bring in Turkish nationals wishing to settle in France to work or join relatives.
About fifteen convoys organized in four months
Customers, having made their own way to Serbia, had to payer up to 10,000 euros to ensure transit from Serbia to France and obtain false driving licenses or Bulgarian identity cards authorizing them to settle on French soil and work. Migrants arrive in Toulouse or Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhône). About fifteen convoys were organized between November 2021 and February 2022. Most of these arrivals settled in the Toulouse region to work in the construction industry.
The sector also had its touts who approached Turks in an irregular situation in France to sell them a false Bulgarian identity card for a refund of 1,000 euros. The false documents were made in Bulgaria and transported to France. Families had to settle an account with a money order in Bulgaria and the balance was given on arrival in France by their loved one.
The preliminary investigation started in 2021 with the opening of a judicial investigation last October. It allowed the arrest of 15 people, and the final indictment of eight of them, aged 19 to 50. Six were remanded in custody and two left under judicial control. The smugglers are domiciled in Bordeaux but most of the network resides in Toulouse and is run by a Bulgarian living in Sofia who took advantage of his places in Toulouse to report papers and illegal immigrants.
They will be judged for assistance with illegal entry, movement or stay of foreigners in France, and forgery and use of false administrative documents.