site.bta43 Persons Apprehended in Different Cities in Bulgaria in Raid against Financing of International Terrorism

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43 Persons Apprehended in
Different Cities in Bulgaria in Raid against
Financing of International Terrorism


Sofia, January 18 (BTA) - The specialized prosecuting magistracy, the State Agency for National Security and the Organized Crime Control Chief Directorate have conducted an operation against the financing of international terrorism, in which 43 persons were apprehended in different cities across Bulgaria, sources from the prosecuting magistracy said.

The investigative officers allege that "unregulated money transfers in big amounts were made in and from Bulgaria using the so called hawala system, within an international criminal group".

The raid continues in Sofia, Pleven, Blagoevgrad, Razgrad, Haskovo, Plovdiv and Lovech.

The specialized criminal court has issued 126 permits for searches and seizures in 50 residences and offices and 26 vehicles, and searches of 50 people.

Documents, other items and 32,000 euro have already been seized.

It has been established that the mastermind of the criminal activity is a Syrian national residing in Bulgaria. He was arrested in Sofia while performing unregulated hawala transfers. The person had been in contact with people performing activities for logistical support of international terrorist organizations, and with people about which information exists that they are connected to financing of terrorism and other criminal activities.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Deputy Prosecutor General and Specialized Prosecution Office head Ivan Geshev said that there are other foreigners among the detainees but did not say from which countries. LN/ZH

/МЙ/