Sopot drug farm suspect ordered into pretrial detention

The Plovdiv Appellate Court has ordered the pretrial detention of a 27-year-old man involved in operating a drug farm near Sopot. This ruling overturns a previous decision by the District Court that had allowed the suspect to be released on a 1,000 euro bail.

The incident began on August 3 when officers from the Karlovo Police Department attempted to stop the man for a routine check. According to prosecutors, the suspect refused to cooperate, became violent, and attempted to flee, striking a police vehicle during the chase. During the pursuit, he discarded bags containing a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana.

Subsequent searches of an apartment in Sopot and a villa in the surrounding area uncovered approximately 1.5 kilograms of marijuana intended for distribution, valued at over 14,000 euros, along with cannabis cultivation equipment. The suspect now faces three charges: possession of high-risk narcotics for distribution, obstructing police officers, and the cultivation of cannabis plants.