Macedonian national detained in Bulgaria with €98,500 in counterfeit notes

A 19-year-old Macedonian citizen, Hamza Darlista, has been ordered into detention by a Haskovo District Court in Bulgaria after being caught with approximately €98,500 in counterfeit currency.

The suspect was apprehended on October 19 at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing. Authorities discovered 685 forged banknotes—comprising 300 notes of €200 and 385 notes of €100—sewn into the lining of a jacket. Prosecutors noted that the individual had briefly entered Turkey before the crossing and exhibited signs of nervousness during inspection.

Investigations of the suspect's mobile phone reportedly revealed several photographs of similar counterfeit notes taken throughout the year, some of which included the suspect himself. While the defense requested a lighter measure such as bail, citing the suspect's age and lack of prior convictions, the court ruled that the risk of flight and the nature of the suspected crime justified continued detention.