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2 clusters · 9 sources · 4 days · First seen · Last updated

Bulgarian law enforcement smuggling crackdowns

Overview

Bulgarian authorities have conducted several operations targeting organized crime and the smuggling of illicit goods.

In late October 2026, the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) dismantled a ring smuggling counterfeit perfumes and clothing from Turkey. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 5,000 items and over 10,000 euros in cash. Four men were detained in connection with the group, which reportedly generated over 1 million euros in revenue via an online store.

During the same period, law enforcement agencies conducted inspections of 16 gas stations across multiple cities, seizing over 8,000 liters of substandard diesel and gasoline. Additionally, customs officials intercepted a truck from Greece on the Struma motorway containing 9.6 million undocumented cigarettes valued at approximately 1.84 million euros.

Entities

Sofia Customs · Turkey · Bulgarian Ministry of Interior · Bulgarian Customs Agency · Bulgaria

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 5 sources
    Bulgarian authorities seize illegal fuel and cigarettes

    Bulgarian authorities seized over 8,000 liters of substandard fuel from multiple gas stations and intercepted 9.6 million undocumented cigarettes valued at 1.84 million euros.

  2. [CRIME] 5 sources
    Bulgarian police dismantle counterfeit goods smuggling ring

    Bulgarian authorities dismantled a smuggling ring that earned over 1 million euros by selling counterfeit perfumes and clothing from Turkey through a deceptive online store.

Sources

burgas24.bg · burgasmedia.com · dariknews.bg · fakti.bg · novini247.com · petel.bg · plovdivnow.bg · ruse.news · standartnews.com