site.btaNearly 206 Kg of Cocaine Seized at Kapitan Andreevo

A record 205.94 kg of cocaine were seized at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing in a Belgian-plated vehicle, in which a diplomat from the Republic of Congo in Brussels was traveling. Three people were arrested - two men aged 40 and 43, and a 54-year-old woman. The news was announced a press briefing at the border, attended by Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, Haskovo District Prosecutor Ivan Stoyanov, Customs Agency Director Georgi Dimov, and Chief Commissioner Boyan Raev, Director of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime.

The cocaine was discovered during an inspection of the diplomatic vehicle entering Bulgaria from Turkiye on July 18, said Haskovo District Prosecutor Ivan Stoyanov. The drugs were packed into five suitcases.

The arrested individuals, a Belgian woman, a Bulgarian man who was driving the car, and the diplomat, were formally charged yesterday. They have been detained for 72 hours, Stoyanov said. He added that the charges they face carry a penalty of 15 to 20 years in prison and a fine of BGN 200,000 to 300,000.

Based on court-assigned evaluation, the seized drug haul is worth 37.69 million BGN.