site.btaCustoms Seize Marijuana in Truck Carrying Potatoes

During an inspection of a truck transporting seed potatoes, customs inspectors discovered over 8 kilograms of marijuana concealed in 16 packages, the Customs Agency said in a press release on Monday.

On the morning of March 30, 2025, near the Danube Bridge at Vidin, a truck owned by a Turkish company was pulled over for inspection while travelling from Romania to Bulgaria. According to the documents presented by the driver, a Turkish national, the cargo consisted of seed potatoes. However, custom officers selected the vehicle for a thorough inspection.

During the search, black polyethylene packages were found hidden beneath the first row of potato sacks in the middle of the cargo compartment. Inside, officers uncovered vacuum-sealed transparent packages containing a green, plant-like substance, which tested positive for marijuana.

The authorities seized a total of 16 packages weighing 8,604.12 grams of marijuana. The driver has been detained for up to 72 hours by the prosecuting magistracy.

According to the Customs Agency, the inspection was part of the compensatory measures implemented following Bulgaria’s admission to the Schengen Area and the subsequent abolition of border control checks at the EU’s internal borders.