Bulgaria's organised crime agency (GDBOP) detained 11 people yesterday in raids in several towns. They are suspected of draining money from a water utility through public procurement contracts.
Investigators are checking drinking water reservoirs in Primorsko, Sozopol, Burgas, Kameno, Karnobat, Nesebar, Malko Tarnovo and other places. GDBOP is investigating an organised criminal group that, according to the agency, has operated in Burgas and Sofia since February 2024.
The scheme ran through contracts to build and repair the reservoirs. Investigators say the work was recorded as fully done and paid for, but in fact it was not done, or only partly done. Some of the rest was poor quality or unfinished.
Two contracts alone cost nearly €8.18m (16m leva) including VAT.
On one of them, the amount paid was twice the sum first announced. The extra money was paid through added agreements for unforeseen costs. Another contract was paid for repairs that nobody carried out. Examples include a stainless steel ladder for €869.19 (1,700 leva) and a PVC door to a water chamber, with making and fitting costing €1,636.13 (3,200 leva).
GDBOP believes the client and the contractor agreed terms in advance, before the tenders started. Investigators have information that much of the money went to people linked to the scheme.
Police worked at 31 addresses, searched 7 private properties and carried out 24 inspections. They seized more than €20,000 in various currencies, investment coins, jewellery, watches, many documents and electronic devices. They also found ammunition of different types and calibres.
38 witnesses have been questioned in the case.
The detainees are being held in custody for up to 24 hours under the Interior Ministry Act.