Giuseppe Giorgino, Head of the Specialized Unit for combating organized crime and international drug trafficking in Torino, Italy said that police believe Brendo is responsible for importing around 40 tons of cocaine into Italy per year.
Giorgino added that the operation could have been even more successful had there not be an information leak in 2008.
“During the investigation, the most alarming thing was that all documents exchanged between the [police] partners from Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain and Italy were found in Brendo’s car,” Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said on Monday.
Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria Stefano Benazzo praised the success of the joint operation and added that “Bulgaria has made earnest steps towards European integration… Currently, with the reforms, Bulgaria is actually restoring confidence in it and the results of today are part of this process.”
Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office initiated a case against an unnamed magistrate who is believed to have leaked the information to Brendo in 2008, Deputy Prosecutor of Sofia Roman Vasilev told the FOCUS News Agency on Wednesday.
Minister Tsvetano said that the suspect “has been working in the judicial system for many years and is now retired.” He will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.
