Bulgarian Interior Ministry Officer Arrested for Cigarettes Smuggling

Source from:  Focus English News (bg)  01/31/2013

An organised crime group dealing with smuggled cigarettes distribution was neutralised in a joint special operation of Bulgaria's General Directorate for Fight against Organised Crime (GDBOP) and the Internal Security Department with the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Affairs, a press release informs.

One of the members of the crime group is an officer with the Interior Ministry.

The operation was conducted on Tuesday, January 29, on the territory of Sofia, Svishtov and Byala, under the supervision of the Specialised Prosecutor's Office.

Close to a filling station in the region of Byala authorities detected an abandoned freight vehicle, with the keys left on the board. Some 1,415,000 pieces of cigarettes without excise stamps were found inside the vehicle. The investigation brought authorities to Sofia, where they arrested four people, one of whom was an Interior Ministry employee.

According to initial information, the cigarettes were aimed for the black market in the capital city. Work on the case continues. Enditem