site.btaTen Suspects Charged with Participation in Criminal Group Distributing Drugs

Ten Suspects Charged with Participation in Criminal Group Distributing Drugs

Sofia, May 12 (BTA) - The Specialized Prosecution Office said on
Tuesday it has issued an indictment against ten members of an
organized criminal group distributing drugs, led by Zlatomir
"Beret" Ivanov. Ivanov was charged on two counts: leading the
organized group and stealing a Mercedes-Benz car worth 27,900
leva.

The other nine suspects were charged with involvement with the
criminal group. Four of them were also charged with possessing
and distributing drugs, and one man was indicted for illegal
possession of a firearm.

Evidence shows that the group has been active on the southern
part of the Bulgarian coastline, and also in Sofia and Kazanluk,
since October 2011. The group was very well organized, with
clear duties assigned to each member at each level. Zlatomir
Ivanov led the group until January 29, 2013, when he was shot
and wounded in front of Sofia's Palace of Justice. After that
the group continued to function without a formal leader until
suspects were arrested.

While acting as leader, Ivanov was only in contact with Ivailo
Borissov and Zlatko Gochev, who were immediately below him in
the hierarchy of the organization. Borissov and Gochev were
organizing the actual distribution of the drugs (mostly cocaine,
marijuana and amphetamines of high quality), recruiting pushers
and collecting the proceeds.

This is not the first case in which Zlatomir "Beret" Ivanov has
faced drug charges as a leader of an organized criminal group.
In February 2013 he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment
for leading an organized criminal group engaging in the illegal
drugs trade. He appealed the sentence. According to other
charges brought by specialized prosecutors in April 2013, the
group led by Ivanov committed tax offences.