site.btaEight Detained in Vote-Buying Crackdown in Karnobat Municipality

Thirteen individuals have been checked, eight of whom were detained during a specialized police operation, dubbed “Vote Buying,” in Karnobat Municipality on Friday, according to the press service of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Burgas.

Six pre-trial proceedings have been initiated against five individuals. Five of the cases concern crimes related to citizens’ voting rights, while one case involves drug possession. Over EUR 13,000 in EUR 50 and EUR 100 banknotes was found in one of the detainees. The banknotes were seized, along with lists of names and corresponding sums of money. In others, authorities found a gas pistol, photographs of other people’s identity cards, as well as personal and debit cards along with name lists. Four individuals who had either received or been promised money to vote for a specific party have been questioned. During the operation, a search of an address also uncovered more than 20 small packets of high-risk cannabis-type substances, as well as cannabis seeds intended for growing marijuana. Work on the cases is ongoing.

On March 25, six men were detained in Burgas' Fourth Police Precinct during a specialized police operation targeting crimes related to citizens’ political rights, conventional crime, and drug dealing. Lists of names believed to be connected to the upcoming elections were discovered and seized, along with labeled envelopes each containing EUR 50. At one of the addresses, EUR 7,000 was found.

On March 17, ten individuals were detained in the Komluka neighborhood of Burgas, with notebooks containing names and addresses seized and a drug laboratory discovered during the operation.