Over nine million illegally smuggled cigarettes were confiscated at the port on the day of the Prime Minister’s announcement, saying the operation was part of “one of the largest EU anti-smuggling operations.”
Varna Customs agents uncovered the contraband cigarettes as they arrived in the port from Poti, Georgia, on a ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied the Head of the Customs Agency Vanyo Tanov, said that the availability of more advanced technology, like scanners, sped up monitoring and provided a check on border guards who may be prone to taking bribes. He said this is one of the reasons why his administration seized so many illicit cigarettes.
He said he remains committed to rooting out cigarette smuggling on all levels, from the smugglers themselves to the border guards who accept bribes.
“The issue here is to find out who kept quiet about the smuggling and why; fire them and make them face legal charges,” he said, announcing his intention to punish guards found guilty of accepting bribes or looking the other way.
He said the Bulgarian government would continue to work in tandem with Europol to crack down on cigarette smuggling and organized crime.
