# Bulgarian police officers cigarette theft sentencing

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-police-officers-cigarette-theft-sentencing
> Updated: 2026-08-26T07:41:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

The Supreme Court of Cassation in Bulgaria has issued a final ruling sentencing three former employees of the Ministry of Interior to seven years in prison each. The individuals, including a former head of the Economic Crime Unit in Pleven and a former head of a local police station, were convicted for the theft of 382,134 packs of cigarettes from a warehouse in Pleven.

The stolen tobacco products, valued at approximately 2,364,251.95 BGN, were being held as evidence in a pre-trial proceeding. While the Pleven District Court had initially issued 10-year sentences, the Veliko Tarnovo Court of Appeal reduced the terms to seven years, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

## Claims

- The Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed the sentences on August 14, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Three former Ministry of Interior employees were sentenced to 7 years in prison each. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The sentences will be served under an initial strict regime. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The defendants stole 382,134 packs of cigarettes. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The total value of the stolen tobacco products is 2,364,251.95 BGN. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The stolen cigarettes were being held as evidence in a pre-trial proceeding. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The theft was carried out in two separate acts. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The perpetrators used a ladder, a metal plate, and a metal bar to access the warehouse. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: Bulgarian police officers sentenced for 2.3 million BGN cigarette theft

Three former Bulgarian police officers have been sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing over 382,000 packs of cigarettes, valued at 2.36 million BGN, from an evidence warehouse in Pleven.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-police-officers-sentenced-for-23-million-bgn-cigarette-theft

### 2026-07-29: Bulgarian Peter Petrov jailed 12 years in UK for smuggling 54 pistols and 764 rounds

Bulgarian Peter Petrov, 57, was sentenced in the UK to 12 years for attempting to smuggle 54 pistols and 764 9mm rounds hidden in a Mercedes Sprinter’s spare tyres, stopped by Border Force at Dover.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-peter-petrov-jailed-12-years-in-uk-for-smuggling-54-pistols-and-764-rounds

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Cite as: Bulgarian police officers cigarette theft sentencing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-police-officers-cigarette-theft-sentencing