The effectiveness of law enforcement today is measured by tangible achievements, such as dismantling criminal schemes, locating wanted persons, and enhancing security, all made possible by the daily coordination between experts and officers from different countries. This unified front against crime, which recognizes no borders, is the essence of the International Day of Police Cooperation. The initiative, observed by the Ministry of Interior, was established by the UN General Assembly and is celebrated every year on September 7, starting from 2022.
Data from the first half of 2026 demonstrates that cross-border data exchange translates into real operational results. During this period, 21 internationally wanted persons were detained in Bulgaria, along with 24 transfers, 9 extraditions, and 3 deportations. The significance of this cooperation is key to tackling transnational crime, as it allows for the rapid localization of victims and wanted individuals, the recovery of stolen property and tracking of financial assets, as well as the neutralization of networks operating through digital technologies.
The success of international operations in which Bulgarian services actively participate confirms these trends:
- In March, during the joint operation "Pangea" with the Customs Agency, 632 medicinal products were seized, including antidepressants, hormonal agents, dermatological preparations, and anti-cancer drugs. In parallel, the Cybercrime Directorate of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) terminated access to a website offering illegal trade in anabolic steroids.
- In June, during operation "Trigger," 123 handguns and 1,204 12-gauge firearms were confiscated, along with various components — 130 barrels, 300 magazines, and 100 bolt mechanisms.
- In the same month, operation "METIS" led to the identification of an individual at the Special Home for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners in Busmantsi, who was internationally wanted for arrest in connection with a serious crime — murder.
Since the fight against the criminal underworld cannot stop at the border, international cooperation remains the only way to protect citizens in a world where illegal activities increasingly transcend national boundaries.