Eighteen Nepalis trafficked through multiple countries to reach Bulgaria were arrested three months ago for entering without valid documents. The Nepali Embassy in Germany, which provides consular support to Nepalis in Bulgaria, confirmed that the Nepalis were detained on charges of illegal entry.

The Bulgarian authorities are preparing to deport the detainees this week. They are currently held at a deportation centre in the capital city, Sofia.

“There are 18 of us here, waiting for travel documents,” one detainee said. “We hope to be repatriated soon.”

The detainee added that none of them have passports. “The Bulgarian authorities have contacted the Nepali Embassy to arrange travel documents for our return.”

Sagar Prasad Phuyal, the deputy chief of mission at the Nepali Embassy in Germany, confirmed the embassy’s coordination with Bulgarian authorities to expedite the deportation process. “We have issued the necessary travel documents,” Phuyal said. “The Bulgarian government will cover their travel costs to Nepal, and they are expected to be deported by next week.”

The detainees reportedly travelled from India to Romania, then Hungary, and finally Bulgaria, with many initially arriving in Romania on work permits. Of late, there are some reports of instances of some Nepalis abandoning their legal work status in Romania and attempting to reach other European countries.

“I was planning to go to Poland,” said one detainee. “I had a three-month Bulgarian visa, but it expired, and I was arrested. Returning to Nepal is now the only option left.”