site.btaCustoms Inspectors Seize Undeclared Gold Jewellery Worth Over BGN 80,000

Smuggled gold jewellery worth over BGN 80,000 was seized by the customs inspectors at the Lesovo checkpoint in a car entering Bulgaria from Turkiye. 

The check was carried out within the framework of the joint operation on countering smuggling, with the participation of the National Customs Agency, Border Police, General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and the National Revenue Agency. 

The car was driven by a Turkish citizen, a permanent resident in Bulgaria. During the check-up, a total of six packages containing 206 gold jewellery items, including rings, bracelets, earrings, were found in various places in the vehicle’s cabin and in the driver's clothes. The total weight of the undeclared jewellery was 699.24 grammes. According to a preliminary expert opinion, they are made of 14 carat gold with a total market value of BGN 80, 412. 

The smuggled gold articles were seized and pre-trial proceedings were initiated under the supervision of the Yambol District Prosecutor's Office.

Since the beginning of 2024, 6.352 kg of smuggled gold products have been seized at the Lesovo customs post. In comparison, in the first six months of the previous year, 2023, the total amount of gold items seized at the checkpoint was 1.273 kg.