The May arrests were made based on European arrest warrants issues by Italian authorities, who believe that the suspects are connected to the alleged Bulgarian drug lord Evelin “Brendo” Banev. Banev was arrested in Bulgaria on May 16 as part of the operation.
Giuseppe Giorgino, Head of the Specialized Unit for combating organized crime and international drug trafficking in
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
Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria Stefano Benazzo praised the success of the joint operation and added that “
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.