During the last four months, the Bulgarian embassy in Athens has received warnings about 30 cases in which Bulgarian drivers have been detained, tried and sentenced for loading illegal immigrants from Greece, Bulgarian news agency Focus said on February 16 2009, quoting consul Vassil Mitrovski.

Even at the day of this report, Mitrovski said the embassy was notified that after the Greek authorities discovered seven Iraqis in the lorry driven by a Bulgarian citizen, he was sentenced to six years in prison ор a fine of 45 000 euro. When caught, all illegal immigrants are being tried through an expedite procedure. The Iraqis were sentenced to 40 days in prison.

Mitrovski said, as quoted by Focus that on February 12, a lorry of Bulgarian firm Petrovi Trans was apprehended for smuggling refugees. On the very next day, the driver was tried and sentenced to four years ор a fine of 30 000 euro, Focus quoted the firm's owner Plamen Petrov as saying. Petrov said that the refugees hopped on the lorry unnoticed and have even admitted it, therefore, it was not the driver's fault.

Last year, тхе Bulgarian embassy in Greece warned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Bulgarian drivers passing the border should be very careful and inspect their vehicles for secretly boarded refugees. The best possibility for that occurs in the coastal Greek town of Igoumenitsa. According to the embassy, the Iraqis normally pay between 3000 and 4000 euro to cross the border.

There are legal counsels available at the Bulgarian embassy, but Greek legislation does not allow legal protection outside the area where the crime was committed.