Prosecutors in Blagoevgrad have charged a 51-year-old driver from Plovdiv after customs officers found 497 kg of marijuana in his lorry at the Kulata border checkpoint. He can be held for up to 72 hours.
The lorry was stopped for a thorough check early on 10 November as it entered Bulgaria from Greece. Stefan Bakalov, deputy director of the Customs Agency, and prosecutor Irina Asparuhova announced the find at a briefing.
The previous development: Customs officers find 497.9kg of cannabis in refrigerated truck at Kulata
The lorry had a purpose-built hiding place. It held sacks of dry, grass-like material that reacted to a marijuana test. The load is worth millions of euros.
The driver showed papers for sausages and peppers meant for buyers in Bulgaria. According to the papers, the goods were loaded in Spain.
The marijuana packs were in more than 20 boxes, "I think 22", Bakalov said. He said such drugs are often smuggled through Kulata, Vidin and Ruse.
Asparuhova said the driver faces 10 to 15 years in prison and a fine of €100,000 to €200,000.
Prosecutors will ask the court to keep him in custody.