site.btaPolice Reports Special Operations against Vote Buying in Varna, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo and Lovech

Police reported special operations against vote buying and conventional crime in Varna, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo and Lovech. The officers seized lists of names and sums next to those names, mobile phones, and narcotic substances, said the Interior Ministry. 

Participating in the operations were officers of Security Police, Economic Police, Criminal Police, Road Police and the corresponding regional directorates of the Interior, and the gendarmerie. Representatives of other institutions took part as well. They checked vehicles, private addresses, commercial sites, credit institutions, pawnshops, drinking establishments, and ferrous and non-ferrous metal buying points.

Within the specialized police operation in Haskovo, twenty people were detained, some of whom with dozens of lists of names and sums next to them, many mobile phones, BGN 15,670, and a gun. Checked were 67 pawnshops, gaming halls, and quick loan offices. The checked commercial sites, private addresses, and risky locations number 44, and the checked individuals with a criminal record number 71. Seven warning protocols were issued, and five pretrial proceedings were launched. Six casefiles for vote buying were opened. Seized were 30 grammes of heroin, 580 grammes of marijuana, and 2 kg of cocaine. 

In Lovech, the specialized police operation resulted in the arrest of four persons and the launch of four pretrial proceedings. The officers checked 25 commercial sites and pawnshops, 358 people, and 315 vehicles.

In Blagoevgrad, the operation led to the arrest of 20 persons, the seizure of some 27 kg of marijuana and around 4 g of amphetamines, and the launch of four pretrial proceedings. Three alerts for vote buying were checked.

In Varna, 30 people were detained, including persons on the wanted list. A total of 13 pretrial and 5 fast-track proceedings were initiated. Thirty-four warning protocols were issued.

The operations continue. To prevent attempts at the so-called corporate vote, preventing talks are held with individuals who might influence the election process as well as with employees at a dependent position in the workplace's hierarchy.