site.btaOrganized Crime Squad Detains Two Turkish Nationals Sought by Greece near Svilengrad

Two Turkish nationals wanted by the Greek authorities were detained during an operation by the Directorate General for Combating Organized Crime (DGCOC) in the Svilengrad area, the Interior Ministry published on its website on Tuesday.

The actions of the organized crime officers were also carried out in execution of a European arrest warrant. The specialized police operation was carried out in the Svilengrad area, South Central Bulgaria, shortly after midnight on the night of June 2 to 3.

After information was received from the organized crime service in Thessaloniki, their Bulgarian counterparts immediately launched intensive operational and search activities.

The request for assistance concerned the search for persons, members of a criminal organization, who had committed a serious criminal offence in the neighbouring country, including against law enforcement officers.

Within a few hours, the whereabouts of the two men and the vehicle they used to enter Bulgaria were identified.

The operation was carried out by teams from the Counterterrorism Department of the DGCOC and the service sector in Haskovo (South Central Bulgaria). The materials relating to the initiated proceedings have been referred to the Haskovo District Prosecutor's Office.

Extradition of the detainees to Greece is pending, the Interior Ministry added.