site.btaTensions between Interior Minister, Opposition over Faulty Crackdown against Cigarette Smuggling Ring

Tension has flared up Wednesday between Interior Minister Daniel Mitov and the opposition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition over a faulty crackdown against a cigarette smuggling ring in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city.

It started with the publishing on social media by the BOEC civic movement of a video and screenshots of a WhatsApp chat, purportedly between police officers and their superiors, revealing attempts by police chiefs to stop an ongoing anti-smuggling operation and tip-off the smugglers of the impending arrests.

The rank-and-file officers defied the order and went ahead with the raid against the smugglers, risking their careers. That led to a haul of contraband cigarettes worth BGN 8 million, according to BOEC. They also say that the contraband cigarettes were meant to be distributed on markets in France and the UK.

On Wednesday, Minister Mitov said that the senior officers involved in the Plovdiv case had been removed from their positions over a month ago, before the incident came to light, and that he had instructed the director of the General Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime to take additional measures.

Mitov downplayed the calls for his resignation from the opposition, saying, "I don't know what [MPs from] Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria want".

On Tuesday, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria called for his removal "if his response to the matter is one of cover-up rather than investigation". The coalition’s press release emphasized that they will meet with BOEC representatives and the police officers who exposed the case to review the evidence firsthand.

Mitov also said, "I will not allow speculation to tarnish the work of the Ministry of Interior or smear the reputations of conscientious officers because of isolated incidents". He added that as salaries in the police force increase, so will expectations for police performance.