An international criminal organization that had committed a versatile list of offences throughout Europe was busted after cooperation between Bulgarian, Austrian and international units.

Bulgaria's National Service Combating Organized Crime (NSCOC) joined forces with Austria's Criminal Service and Europol five months ago creating a task group to trail the organization's illegal activities.



The news of the capture was announced Thursday at a press conference featuring NSCOC's chief major general Vanyo Tanov, Mauricio Varanese - Europol representative in Bulgaria and Austria's police attache to Bulgaria - Gerhard Schwarzinger.

Bulgarian and Austrian intelligence services have arrested fifteen people from different nationalities - mainly Bulgarian, Serbian and Ukrainian. They are supposedly part of a well-developed criminal network operating mainly in Bulgaria, Austria and other European countries.

During heists at addresses in both countries, law enforcers confiscated fake ids, debit and credit cards, and counterfeit documents, as well as weapons, synthetic drugs, and counterfeit Euro bills. Large amounts of cash money have been seized as well and police found documents proving money laundering.

The synchronized international heist between Bulgarian and Austrian forces that started October 5, was a success largely due to Europol's coordinating.