Pirin Mountains see surge in illegal cannabis cultivation

Authorities in southwestern Bulgaria are facing a surge in illegal cannabis cultivation within the mountain ranges of the Pirin, Rila, Maleshevska, Belasitsa, and Ograzhden regions. Criminals are increasingly utilizing dense forest areas to hide plantations from view, though law enforcement continues to discover them through anonymous tips and aerial surveillance.

In a recent specialized operation, officers from the Petrich Border Police Station and the Specialized Aerial Observation Unit destroyed over 3.2 tons of cannabis. The operation utilized helicopters to monitor the southwestern slopes of the Pirin Mountains. Criminal investigators identify the Ograzhden mountain area as a significant hub for these activities, with widespread cultivation reported between the villages of Gega and Igralishte.