site.btaNo Conditions for Mafia-Type Groups in Bulgaria - Interior Minister

ESD 12:34:31 05-07-2019
VE1233ES.107
107 HOME AFFAIRS - ORGANIZED CRIME - MINISTER

No Conditions for Mafia-Type
Groups in Bulgaria -
Interior Minister


Sofia, July 5 (BTA) - The security environment in Bulgaria is relatively settled and stable, and there are no signs and conditions for the existence of major crime groups at the national level, mafia-type groupings and criminal activity of great public concern, Interior Minister Mladen Marinov said on Friday. He was speaking at the opening of a Sofia University-hosted conference on the fight against organized crime.

Marinov noted that the measures and the policies of successive Bulgarian governments and the Interior Ministry have caused illegal markets to shrink and criminal capabilities to wane, and have reduced the funding sources of criminal organizations.

"No country can deal with organized crime unless there is cooperation and close ties between its law enforcement authorities, scientific community and businesses," he said.

The Interior Minister further reported that four illegal cigarette factories were uncovered in Bulgaria in 2018. In the first five months of 2019, the authorities seized 33 million illegal cigarettes and averted a 6 million leva detriment to the state budget.

Discussing drug trafficking, Marinov said Bulgaria has worked successfully with foreign agencies. The most recent example was the breaking of a crime ring trafficking heroin by air, which employed Bulgarian mules carrying false-bottom suitcases. The enforcers seized 40 kg of heroin and other illicit drugs in that case. LN/VE