site.btaCourt Remands in Custody French National Accused of Smuggling Amphetamine into Bulgaria

The Kyustendil District Court has remanded in custody a French national accused of smuggling amphetamine across Bulgaria's borders, the court said on Tuesday. The decision is appealable before the Sofia Appellate Court.

G. P., 42, was found carrying amphetamine in five glass bottles of 42 ml in total during a check at the Gyueshevo border control checkpoint on October 15. He was hiding the high-risk narcotic substance in the trunk of his car with French registration. The bottles were labeled as cosmetic products, the prosecution service told BTA.

According to the defence, he should be released on bail due to the lack of evidence that the bottles truly contained a high-risk narcotic substance. The field test for drugs done at the border crossing does not provide precise results, and an authorized laboratory is yet to issue an expert opinion.

If found guilty, the French national faces a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years and a fine of BGN 100,000 to 200,000, the court told BTA.