site.btaCombating Shadow Economy among Cabinet's Top Priorities, Interior Minister Says

Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said that combating the shadow economy is one of the top priorities of the Rosen Zhelyazkov Cabinet. On Tuesday, Mitov toured the 24-hour Anti-smuggling and High-Risk Goods and Cargos Control Interdepartmental Coordination Centre with the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC), the Interior Ministry said.

The Minister cited expert assessments, according to which about one-third of the Bulgarian economy is in the shadow sector. He noted the Centre's leading role in combating smuggling.

Mitov and senior Interior Ministry officials were familiarized with the work of the seven institutions coordinated by the Centre: GDCOC, the National Police General Directorate, the General Directorate Border Police, the State Agency for National Security, the Road Transport Executive Agency, the National Revenue Agency and the National Customs Agency.

"I am confident that the effective fight against illegal activities, which cause a significant detriment to the state budget, will further stabilize the country's public finances," said the Interior Minister.