site.btaDrug Crime Cases Rise in March in Bulgaria

Drug-related pretrial proceedings and detentions rose in March, the Prosecution Service said Wednesday, citing data from the Specialized Interdepartmental Unit of the Prosecution Service and the Interior Ministry for Supporting Investigations into Drug-Related Crimes and Illegal Migration.

Between March 1 and 31, 2026, pretrial proceedings in drug-related cases totaled 925, up from 726 in February 2026. Detentions rose to 1,000 from 767 the previous month.

Specialized police operations also rose, to 590 from March 1 to 31, 2026, from 532 between February 1 and 28. The data showed seizures of a range of narcotics. In March, police seized more than 21 kg of cocaine, 11 kg of heroin, more than 292 kg of marijuana, nearly 50 kg of amphetamine, more than 40 kg of ecstasy, more than 1 kg of fentanyl and other narcotic substances.

As part of efforts to counter illegal migration, police carried out 423 specialized operations between March 1 and 31, 2026, detaining 14 third-country nationals illegally residing in Bulgaria.

A total of 182 people were detained for illegal border crossings and for helping foreign nationals illegally reside in or transit the country, while 33 new pretrial proceedings were opened.

The data showed that in March 2026, 425 court rulings on drug-related crimes and 80 on illegal border crossings and unlawful assistance to foreign nationals to reside in or transit the country took effect.

In February, the number of cases opened for the production, processing, acquisition, possession and distribution of drugs also rose compared with January.