The Main Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" conducted an unprecedented operation that uncovered an extremely well-masked underground production base for illegal cigarettes. The action was carried out in a coordinated manner by officers in Sofia, Haskovo, and Stara Zagora on July 9 with exceptional operational efficiency.
Minister Daniel Mitov described the investigation as key evidence of the government's will to counteract smuggling, the gray sector, and money laundering. During the operation, two parallel illegal structures were dismantled - a cigarette factory and disinformation distributors.
GDBOP Director Chief Commissioner Boyan Raev revealed technical details about the illegal production. The factory had been operating for between two and three years with extremely sophisticated infrastructure, including hidden residential premises, its own power system, and specially designed logistics.
The underground complex was located under a cow farm near the village of Momkovo, with an extremely inventive camouflaged entrance, hidden among fodder materials. Access was achieved through an electronically controlled concrete platform, which further complicated potential detection.
During the police operation, a cargo vehicle was found with 324 master boxes of cigarettes - a total of 16,200 sticks, likely intended for export to Romania. The vehicle was equipped with extremely professional concealment methods, including "plugs" made of laundry detergents.
In the underground premises, the police found two separate zones with a total of ten beds, suggesting a large-scale production capacity. Among the four detained suspects is a foreign citizen, which expands the scope of the investigation.
Initial analyses indicate that the production is mainly for foreign markets, with a minimal share for the domestic market. An in-depth investigation is pending to establish the full scale of criminal activity and potential links to other similar cases.
Minister Mitov emphasized the institutional impartiality of the investigation, stating that GDBOP is working in the interest of Bulgarian citizens, regardless of potential political speculations.
The operation demonstrated the high professionalism of Bulgarian law enforcement and their ability to uncover extremely well-hidden criminal structures.