How far do the acquaintances of those accused of cigarette smuggling extend?

More and more information is coming to light about the acquaintances of Marin and Stefan Dimitrov, accused of cigarette smuggling, with senior police officers and prominent politicians, even ministers.

Father-and-son Marin and Stefan Dimitrov know the head of the Customs Agency Petya Bankova and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior Zhivko Kotsev. Bankova's defence thesis is that a colleague of hers from the State Agency for National Security, SANS, (where she worked before she was appointed the Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency) introduced her to them, knew about their acquaintance with Zhivko Kotsev and although she herself worked first in the National Security Service and then in SANS for more than 10 years she did not know that they were involved in smuggling.

On April 6, during the hearing, it emerged that an anonymous witness, who declared that he worked in a senior management position in the Ministry of Interior, claimed in his testimony that father and son Dimitrovi also knew former Minister of Interior and current MP Boyko Rashkov well. The witness also says that he was family friends with Dimitrovi, but maintained contact with them precisely out of loyalty to Rashkov.

The same witness gives evidence that Marin and Stefan Dimitrovi were also good acquaintances with former Finance minister Assen Vassilev (of “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria”). There is also testimony that the two were acquainted with Kalin Stoyanov, but no details of this relationship were given.

Photos of Zhivko Kotsev, Stefan Dimitrov and former Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova have appeared. On this occasion, Angelkova published her position in the social network, in which she explains that she has known Zhivko Kotsev for less than a year. She has seen him both at public events and on other unspecified occasions. She has never been interested in and does not know the details of his work. She regrets that her name is involved in this story. She also writes that she has nothing to hide and refuses to enter into political intrigue. She declares that she will cooperate with the competent authorities if she is contacted.

The Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency and her deputy have been detained

Charges have been brought against the Head of Bulgarian Customs Agency, Petya Bankova, for involvement in an organized crime group for smuggling, money laundering and bribery. She was also charged for having committed a crime by appointing a specific person as the head of the customs office "Lesovo" , at the request of Stefan Dimitrov.

The other accused are father-and-son, Marin and Stefan Dimitrov - also for participation in an organised crime group together with Bankova and Nikola Nikolov - Pascal. The father-and-son Dimitrov are also accused of specific smuggling of cigarettes through the territory of Bulgaria to another country.