site.btaSvilengrad Customs Closure Will Improve Agency's Performance - Finance Minister

Svilengrad Customs Closure Will Improve Agency's Performance - Finance Minister

Sofia, December 16 (BTA) - Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov told journalists on Wednesday that although the operation conducted at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint provided sufficient grounds for the closure of Svilengrad Customs, it would be done as part of restructuring intended to improve management.

Goranov said: "This is an old idea we considered implementing from January, but there was this occasion to bring it forward."

Thirty-three customs officers were arrested on suspicions of corruption at the border checkpoint in an anti-graft operation over the past weekend. Law enforcers carried out over 100 searches of homes, vehicles, business offices and the suspects and confiscated some 100,000 leva in total.

The suggested changes in the rules of organization of the Customs Agency were posted on its website for public consultation on Tuesday. They were prompted by the need to streamline the Agency's performance and take effective measures to prevent corruption practices.

Some of the Svilengrad Customs employees will be moved to the Central Customs Directorate.