In the ongoing battle against smuggling operations at the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, three sniffer dogs from the UK have been enlisted. Labrador Luna, springer spaniel Callie, and a springer-cocker spaniel mix named Sprocket are tasked with detecting small boat equipment used by trafficking groups attempting to sneak into Europe. Trained by the National Crime Agency, these dogs are specialized in identifying the rubber material from people smugglers’ dinghies concealed within trucks.
The introduction of these canine units aims to replicate the success achieved by the UK-trained German short-haired pointer Adele, who recently assisted Bulgarian authorities in seizing 48kg of cocaine at the border. This initiative was announced by Minister for Europe, Stephen Doughty, during his meetings in Sofia with the newly appointed Bulgarian government.
Highlighting the effectiveness of the collaboration with Bulgaria, Mr. Doughty emphasized the joint efforts that led to intercepting 91 boats last year, potentially preventing the dangerous transportation of numerous individuals across the Channel. The minister expressed the government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with EU nations for enhanced security and growth.
During his visit to Sofia, Mr. Doughty witnessed firsthand the operations of Bulgarian law enforcement. Besides deploying sniffer dogs, the UK has provided drones for monitoring illegal migrant activities across Bulgaria’s mountainous regions, as well as vehicle scanning equipment to uncover hidden contraband and individuals trafficked illegally in vehicles crossing the border.
Bulgaria, being a key entry point into the EU, already seizes more small boats than any other country. Together with Romania, Bulgaria joined the EU’s Schengen Area in 2025, facilitating the free movement of people and goods within Europe without internal border checks.
The collaboration between the NCA, Home Office International Operations, and various international partners, including Europol, Belgium, France, and Germany, has resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 boats and engines since early 2023, with more than 500 confiscations in 2025 alone.
Kenny Dron, NCA Head of Region, praised the partnership with Bulgaria in combating organized crime and expressed optimism about the expanded cooperation. The deployment of the new sniffer dogs is expected to further enhance efforts to disrupt criminal networks threatening the security of both nations.
Among the individuals involved in smuggling operations through this route was Hewa Rahimpur, a gang leader sentenced to 11 years in Belgium. Rahimpur oversaw one of the largest human trafficking networks facilitating illegal crossings across the English Channel, bringing around 10,000 people to the UK through small boats.
Having established a criminal enterprise in the UK, Rahimpur orchestrated the sourcing of boats, engines, and life-jackets for migrant journeys, procuring equipment from various countries and transporting them through Europe.
Select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to your preferred news content.
At Reach and across our entities , we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to enhance your site experience,