Sofia Hosts Christmas Book Fair and 13th International Literary Festival
Sofia is set to welcome the annual Christmas Book Fair and the 13th International Literary Festival from December 9 to 14, 2025
The Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs has reported a new and particularly dangerous method of drug distribution aimed at children. Law enforcement authorities said the seized narcotics were packaged in colorful bags resembling candy or seeds, making them attractive to minors and hard to detect.
Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, head of the Sofia Internal Affairs Directorate, explained that a 28-year-old Bulgarian with a criminal record was detained following a specialized police operation by the 6th Regional Directorate. The suspect was supplying both individual clients and other dealers with various narcotics near schools and nightlife venues in Sofia.
According to Nikolov, each bag contained between 3 and 5 grams of marijuana. Ecstasy and cocaine were also found during the operation. The dealer avoided direct handovers, instead leaving the bags in hidden locations and sending photographs of the drop points via social networks to buyers, further complicating detection.
Commissioner Nikolov stressed that this new distribution method represents a serious threat to children and adolescents. He warned parents, teachers, and young people to exercise heightened vigilance. The clever packaging, resembling treats, not only conceals the drugs from casual observation but also misleads authorities during roadside checks.
Forensics officers noted that while the bags were vacuum-sealed, they had clearly been filled with narcotics after production. The dealer misrepresented the contents as jelly candies or other food items, underscoring the deceptive nature of this scheme. Authorities continue to determine the full quantity of drugs involved.
This case highlights a troubling trend in drug distribution tactics, with children being specifically targeted through visually appealing packaging to "fish" them into use, prompting police to urge communities to remain alert.
A large-scale police operation involving the special unit “Cobra” is underway in Sofia’s Lyulin district, as well as at several other locations across the capital, according to NOVA sources.
Fourteen people have been formally charged for their role in the violence that broke out during the December 1 protest in central Sofia
At the request of the Pleven District Prosecutor’s Office, the Pleven District Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of three men, citizens of Georgia, who are accused of migrant trafficking
Handcuffed and with his head bowed, 24-year-old Juney Dyulgerov appeared before the Plovdiv District Court in connection with the tragic traffic accident on the Plovdiv Ring Road
The 23-year-old son of a prominent businessman from Madan, Bulgaria, was violently killed and his body discarded in a local river, the Smolyan District Prosecutor's Office confirmed
In Sofia’s “Studentski Grad” neighborhood, a minor was fatally stabbed following a violent altercation in front of a local restaurant
Bulgaria's Strategic Role in the EU's Drone Wall Defense Initiative
When Politics Means Violence