Only 18 of Bulgaria’s 247 Bomb Shelters Ready for Immediate Use Amid Rising Tensions
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, authorities have taken a closer look at Bulgaria’s bomb shelters, focusing on their availability and condition
Authorities have uncovered what is believed to be the largest illegal cigarette factory ever discovered in Bulgaria. The facility was located in the village of Momkovo, in the Haskovo region, and was dismantled during a joint operation by the Directorate for the Prevention of Corruption and the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office.
At the site, investigators found more than 100 million cigarettes bearing various brand names. The scale of the operation suggests a highly organized and large-scale illicit enterprise. According to officials, the cigarettes were being produced and stored using extensive equipment housed in underground compartments.
In addition to the enormous quantity of finished cigarettes, law enforcement uncovered a substantial number of machines used in the manufacturing process. These production lines were reportedly concealed in hidden spaces beneath the property, enabling covert and continuous operations.
Further details about the operation and its implications are expected later in the day, as representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office are scheduled to provide more information from the scene.
The discovery marks a major success in efforts to combat the illegal tobacco trade in Bulgaria.
Customs officers at the “Kapitan Andreevo” checkpoint intercepted a truck carrying cocaine and gold bars valued at a combined total of 1,431,906.60 euros during a thorough inspection on February 22, 2026.
The Sofia District Court has ruled that the initial 24-hour police detention of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was unlawful. The decision came after an appeal filed by his attorney, Ina Lyulcheva
The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office has sought international cooperation in the investigation into the deaths linked to the “Petrohan–Okolchitsa” case.
Greek authorities have detained four Bulgarian nationals near the town of Farsala in southern Thessaly on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and the exploitation of their fellow citizens
A 37-year-old Syrian citizen has been sentenced to four years in prison following a conviction for committing acts intended to satisfy sexual desire without intercourse and for extorting BGN 50, according to the Sofia District Prosecution Office.
A 39-year-old man has been taken into custody following an alleged sexual assault involving a minor.
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