
The regional police in the city of Smolyan is conducting a special police operation, codenamed “Money Launderers,” involving 50 hotels in local resorts. File Photo
50 hotels in Bulgaria's resorts of Smolyan, Pamporovo, and Devin are being searched by the regional police in the city of Smolyan.
The police chief informs the raids, codenamed “Money Launderers,” have been going on for 40 days now.
The same facilities have been checked already in the 2005 – 2006 period with some additional ones, built after 2006 subject of the probe.
The police had requested all building permits issued by the local municipalities of Smolyan, Chepelare and Devin, but, according to the police chief, economic crime is more difficult to prove and the probe will take quite a while.
In addition, 80% of the investors are scattered all over the world, leading to further delays over the need to collaborate with foreign police and prosecutor's offices.
Once all evidence is collected, an analysis of the funding to build and furnish the hotels will be carried out to establish if there is money laundering and/ or tax evasion involved.