Drugs worth nearly BGN 1 million seized in a large-scale special operation by Sofia police

Seven types of illegal drugs worth about 950,000 BGN at the illicit drugs market, weapons and over 100,000 BGM were seized in a large-scale special operation of the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior on October 26.

The operation was carried out after a month-long surveillance by the police officers in connection with the acquired information about various types of narcotic substances offered through a mobile application.

A pressing machine and substances for making amphetamine were found in a base in the village of German, used for drug production and distribution depot. Three were arrested at the scene, two of whom were found in the process of distributing the material in doses.

A total of 10,000 Ecstasy pills, 20 kg of marijuana, 4 kg of amphetamine, 4 kg of hashish, 3 kg of heroin, 1 kg of cocaine, and 1 kg of methamphetamine were seized. They also found 2 combat and 1 machine gun, a Kalashnikov rifle, 2 grenades and nearly 100,000 BGN.

The seizure prevented the distribution of drugs on the territory of the country amounting, according to experts' estimates, to the value of 950 000 BGN at the illicit drugs market and to 400,000 BGN in wholesale. A total of seven people aged between 33 and 67 were arrested.

Within the operation, the Sofia police officers identified members of a criminal group who were carrying out drug sales in Sofia and using the services of a courier company for deliveries in the country.

The Director of SDMoI, Senior Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, explained the scheme by which the distribution of narcotic substances was carried out through encrypted groups - the customers requested a specific quantity, paid with electronic currency, and the dealer delivered the drugs and photographed the place.

In this way, the link between customer and dealer is lost and detection becomes more difficult.

The operation was carried out on 24 October with the paticipation of the Gendarmerie as part of the investigation led by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office.

The criminal group was very well structured and, in addition to drug distribution, was also involved in acts of force, said the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Chief Commissioner Zhivko Kotsev.

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office charged four of the arrested and ordered their detention for up to 72 hours.

The investigation is on-going and is to include officers of the Cybercrime Directorate of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, given the manner in which the payments were made in the drug transactions.