site.btaPleven Gets First Toxicochemistry Lab Outside Sofia

The first toxicochemistry laboratory outside Sofia was opened in Pleven by caretaker Minister of the Interior Emil Dechev on Friday. The facility will speed up drug and alcohol testing in pre-trial proceedings involving drivers and crime suspects.

Dechev cut the ribbon in the presence of his deputy, Kaloyan Miltenov, the leadership and staff of the regional police directorate in Pleven, and members of the media.

Dechev said the new laboratory would speed up expert reports and examinations in pre-trial proceedings requiring tests on drivers and crime suspects. He said the facility would determine whether they had used drugs or alcohol and help accelerate cases.

He also said the opening of the laboratory would ease pressure on other laboratories in the country and enable more precise, higher-quality examinations with state-of-the-art equipment.

The Pleven facility is one of four laboratories to be built. The next three will be opened at the Interior Ministry’s regional directorates in Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas, Dechev said.

He added that the laboratories are being financed under a EUR 2.5 million Traffic Safety Fund project. Work on the project began in 2023.