site.btaPolice Discover Illegal Cigarette-manufacturing Factory near Sofia

The General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) has urgently conducted a specialized police operation, during which an illegal factory for manufacturing cigarettes was discovered near Sofia on September 30, the Interior Ministry said here on Tuesday. The facility was found in the village of Gorna Malina, from where an assembly line and equipment were seized. 

The police also found some 20 tonnes of processed tobacco, designated to be packaged and branded as cigarettes. According to independent experts, the facility was capable of producing some 2400-2800 cigarettes per minute. 

Financial detriment to the exchequer worth millions of leva has been prevented. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated and a witness has been questioned. The operation was conducted under the Customs Agency's direct supervision.