site.btaSome 5 Kg of Opium Intercepted at Kapitan Andreevo Checkpoint

123 HOME AFFAIRS - OPIUM - DETAINED

Some 5 Kg of Opium
Intercepted at
Kapitan Andreevo Checkpoint


Sofia, January 22 (BTA) - Nearly five kilogrammes of opium have
been seized at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint, the press centre
of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) said Thursday.
On January 19, officers of the Svilengrad Customs Agency
checked an incoming TIR truck from Turkey with an Iranian
registration and an Iranian driver carrying 152 plaster
statuettes. A more detailed search established that nine packs
containing brown powder of a total gross weight of 4,800 kg were
hidden in one of the statuettes. A test showed that the
substance was opium.

On January 20, SANS performed a specialized operation in Sofia
and detained two Iranian nationals, who were supposed to receive
the consignment. One of them has a permanent residence status.
Charges have been pressed against one of the detainees and the
truck driver and they will remain in custody for 72 hours on a
prosecutor's order. /PK/TK/