Bulgarian Police Cut Weapons Trafficking Channel

Crime | December 19, 2013, Thursday // 13:59
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Police Cut Weapons Trafficking Channel Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Chief Secretary Svetlozar Lazarov. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian law enforcement authorities have uncovered and stopped an arms trafficking channel towards Western Europe.

Weapons were retreived upon inspection of a bus that was exiting the country at the Kalotina checkpoint, with destination in Germany.

The check was a coordinated action of Bulgaria's Border Police and Customs Agency, which according to police Chief Secretary Svelozar Lazarov demonstrates the efficiency of the agencies' joint action model.

"The leading hypothesis is not that of terrorism. There are grounds to believe that the weapons are destined for other criminal use, such as contract killing," said Lazarov.

The arms, which include two combat pistols, were held by a national from Sweden.

Thursday Lazarov also revealed that the police have uncovered the source of the weapons - the village of Kaloyanovets in Bulgaria's Stara Zagora region.

Upon inspection of a house in the village, additional weapons were discovered, including 60 hand guns.

A Bulgarian national, former officer in the army, has also been detained.

"The operation shows that Bulgaria provides reliable borders and fulfills its commitments to EU security," stated Chief Secretary Lazarov.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Crime » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Svetlozar Lazarov, contract killing, trafficking, Kalotina, police, army, Germany, Sweden, arms, weapons, Border Police, Customs Agency, EU

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria