Varna customs corruption and tax fraud investigation

In late October 2026, customs officials at the Port of Varna, Bulgaria, intercepted two major shipments from China involving undeclared goods and attempts to evade duties. One seizure involved 45,766 undeclared items hidden in a container declared as car wash equipment. A second incident involved the seizure of over 15.7 tons of screws, where importers allegedly attempted to bypass an 86.5% European Union anti-dumping duty through misrepresentation or undervaluation.

By early November 2026, the situation escalated into a criminal investigation. On November 5, 2026, the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) and the State Agency for National Security (DANS) dismantled an organized crime group involved in customs and tax fraud. Raids conducted in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Vratsa led to the detention of twelve individuals, including four customs officials, two of whom held leadership positions at the Varna Customs Directorate.

Seven of the detainees have been formally charged. Authorities seized approximately 100,000 euros in cash, electronic devices, computer data, and stamps belonging to Chinese companies. Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev stated that the scheme caused damages to the state budget amounting to millions of euros, noting that investigations into corruption within state structures are ongoing.