site.btaState Agency for National Security Conducts Large-scale Operation against Illegal Antiques and Weapons Trafficking

Sofia, August 15 (BTA) - The State Agency for National Security (SANS) conducted a large-scale specialized operation against illegal antiques and weapons trafficking on August 11, the Agency said on Friday.

The operation was led by the prosecution's office as part of an investigation into an illegal mechanism for draining the holdings of Bulgarian State museums and trafficking the exhibits abroad in order to sell them in auctions and to collectors in Russia, Western Europe and the USA.

The operation was conducted simultaneously on the territory of five cities - Varna, Bourgas, Sofia, Pleven and Yambol, where a total of 20 addresses have been searched.

Over 60 ancient coins from the Roman imperial period were seized, most of them in very good condition and high denomination. Architectural and decorative elements were also found, likely from a large ancient public building. Among the cultural valuables found are different weapons from the Russo-Turkish War. Many of the seized items are believed to be stolen from different Bulgarian museums. 

The investigation was launched a year ago after intelligence was received about valuable museum exhibits, of high cultural and historical importance, being replaced. According to preliminary estimates the price of the exhibits could be a few hundred thousand euro.

At the beginning of the year, the SANS specialized unit found out that one such museum exhibit was located in a private collection abroad. The exhibit has been seized in cooperation with Interpol and that country's authorities and a procedure for its return to Bulgaria has been initiated.

The investigation discovered a complex scheme about replacing museum exhibits with cheap copies and trafficking the expensive originals abroad. This generated huge financial profits at the expense of the State.

A specialized operation was conducted in June 2014, as part of the same investigation, which discovered many missing and replaced exhibits. Two people were detained for 24 hours and charges were brought against one of them. During searches of private residences, the authorities found large quantities of movable cultural property, some from museums, as well as documents about the workings of museum holdings.

The August 11 operation resulted in charges against five people. Among the people, against whom measures have been taken under the pre-trial proceedings, are low-level museum workers, as well as very rich people of high social status, who are directly involved with organizing the international trafficking channels. There is one foreigner among those charged.

Special SANS agents, who work on illegal weapons trafficking, also took part in the investigation. The agents had received intelligence that some of the people involved in organizing the antiques trafficking, also had a huge arsenal of weapons. Over 200 firearms were seized from two addresses, including automatic weapons and a combat grenade.

A total of 600 antiques and weapons have been seized as part of the operation, including over 2,600 rounds of ammunition.