Bulgaria's organised crime police (GDBOP) won first and second prizes from the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) for two joint investigations with Turkish police in 2025, the Interior Ministry said. Ten GDBOP officers received certificates today at a ceremony at the directorate's building.
The first prize is for "CON AIR", which GDBOP's narcotics unit led together with Turkish police. Investigators broke up an organised gang that trafficked cannabis. The gang moved the drugs in small planes and helicopters, packed them in sacks and dropped them in border areas of Turkey.
In Turkey, police detained four Turkish citizens and seized more than 220 kg of cannabis. In Bulgaria, police detained five men, including the pilot of the aircraft, and seized the helicopter used in the scheme.
The second prize is for "NOT SO EASY", which GDBOP's cross-border organised crime unit also ran with Turkish police. Officers broke up a group that helped migrants stay in Bulgaria illegally and transported them through the country to Western Europe. The ministry says the group made more than €1.5m from the scheme. Police checked 11 addresses and arrested 8 people, among them a man wanted on an Interpol red notice.
Teodora Atanasova, the Interior Ministry's representative abroad at SELEC and in Romania, presented the awards. "GDBOP has always been an extremely reliable and respected partner, and thanks to it Bulgaria is one of the most active countries in SELEC," she said. Atanasova asked the officers to keep up the same pace, so that their joint work brings even more visible results and satisfaction.
GDBOP director chief commissioner Martin Zlatkov thanked SELEC for its trust and for recognising the officers' professionalism. He also thanked each officer for their training and round-the-clock work.
Each year SELEC honours the most successful specialised operations against organised crime that it carries out with its member states. It judges nominations on results, the importance of the case, its cross-border nature and the level of international cooperation.