Last year, almost 100 people came to Vidsel to pick berries.

But their housing was substandard and lacked water, among other things, which meant that the residents had to leave their homes at the square.

A report of suspected human exploitation was made, but the preliminary investigation, if handled by the group for serious crimes, was then dropped.

Traveled from Söderhamn

Now it looks like the events in Vidsel are repeating themselves.

But this time, several Bulgarian citizens have been stranded in a parking lot along road 94. According to a cottage owner nearby, who has helped the berry pickers, it is about 50 people, of which about ten children.

The cottage owner tells SVT that many also have far too thin clothes with them.

- They came here late last week.

They are not new arrivals to Sweden but have come via Söderhamn where they have picked berries.

Then they went on here but did not get further than they are today, says Älvsbyn's municipal manager Anna Lindberg.

The head of the municipality: Suspects connections to Vidsel

Because there are children involved, the social services have been on site to see how everything works.

At present, the municipality makes the assessment that the situation is under control.

However, it is suspected that there are connections to last year's events in Vidsel and that it is the same person who is behind what happened in Vidsel and what is happening this year.

According to the municipality, the person guided the Bulgarian berry pickers here but then left the group and Norrbotten.

- Last year, there were also people who had been lured here to pick berries.

We can not swear that it is the same thing now, but we suspect it, says Anna Lindberg, mayor.

The cars have been banned from driving

The police also confirm that they have been on site at the berry pickers' tent camp in Älvsbyn.

Because many cars have been substandard, the police have informed that the majority have a driving ban.

That is why the Bulgarian berry pickers have been stranded.

However, the police do not want to go into any details about who has helped the berry pickers to Sweden.

- Someone has helped them here, but it is unclear whether they have entered into an agreement or not.

We do not really know how they got here at the moment, says Andreas Nyberg, local police area manager Piteå Älvdal.

SVT Norrbotten does not currently know who is responsible for the Bulgarian berry pickers being outside Älvsbyn, but is currently investigating the issue.

The tent camp outside Älvsbyn where about 50 berry-picking Bulgarians live.

Photo: Erica Larsson / SVT