site.btaBulgarian Interior Minister, British Ambassador Agree to Cooperate against Money Laundering

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov and British Ambassador to Bulgaria Nathaniel Copsey agreed on scheduling a working meeting, focused on countering money laundering and an action plan for cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior reported on Monday.

The Minister highlighted new areas for cooperation, including countering money laundering and hybrid threats, in which British expertise would be extremely valuable for the Bulgarian side, particularly in the context of setting up thematic working groups.

Ambassador Copsey expressed his gratitude for the mutually beneficial cooperation, including the opportunity for British citizens to pass freely through electronic border gates at Bulgarian airports, as well as the successfully launched information campaign on the risks of smuggling illegal migrants in freight trucks.

He noted he was deeply impressed by the large-scale police operation that uncovered an illegal cigarette factory. The Ambassador expressed readiness on the part of the UK to share expertise in the areas identified by the Minister.

Just days ago, Bulgaria’s General Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime (GDBOP) and the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office uncovered a factory for the illegal production of cigarettes. Over 100 million cigarettes of various brands were found on-site, along with numerous machines used to produce the illicit products hidden in underground compartments.