site.btaFive Arrested in Bulgaria as International Crime Ring Is Dismantled in Joint Operation with Europol and Eurojust

Five people were arrested in Bulgaria as an organized crime group operating across three provinces in Germany was dismantled in a large-scale international operation under the aegis of Europol and Eurojust, said the Varna Appellate Prosecution Office Wednesday. The group was involved in stealing power cables from German railways, construction sites, and warehouses, with the total value of stolen materials exceeding EUR 1 million.

The District Prosecutor's Office in Varna is leading investigations into three European investigation orders issued by the German Prosecutor's Office concerning the group's activities. The majority of the suspects are Bulgarian nationals.

Simultaneous raids in Bulgaria and Germany

On December 16, simultaneous actions were carried out in both Bulgaria and Germany, including searches of private properties, vehicles, and personal belongings. Evidence relevant to the criminal activities was seized. The operation involved two prosecutors and ten investigators from the Varna District Prosecutor's Office, one investigator from the Shumen District Prosecutor's Office, and 83 officers from Bulgaria's General Directorate of National Police and regional police departments in Varna and Shumen.

In Bulgaria alone, authorities searched 24 addresses and six vehicles, conducting personal searches of nine individuals. Five men with European Arrest Warrants issued by German authorities were detained in Bulgaria, while three individuals were arrested in Germany.

The operation led to the seizure of numerous mobile phones, SIM cards, documents, and other items linked to the investigation.

The five suspects detained in Bulgaria are being held for up to 72 hours under orders from supervising prosecutors. Translations of the European arrest warrants into Bulgarian are underway, after which the Varna and Shumen District Prosecutor's Offices will petition the courts for pretrial detention measures. These measures will remain in effect until the suspects are handed over to German authorities.