Customs officers at Burgas Airport caught a Bulgarian man with 20,000 cigarettes hidden in his suitcases — he was about to fly to Manchester, United Kingdom. The incident took place on the evening of September 20, 2026.
The passenger had gone through the "green channel" and declared he had nothing to report. During an inspection carried out jointly with the Border Police, a total of 20,000 cigarettes — 1,000 packs of two different brands — were found in his two suitcases.
The cigarettes bore valid Bulgarian excise stamps, but the quantity far exceeded the limits for personal use. That constitutes a violation of the Customs Act, since the man was effectively carrying a commercial shipment. The goods were seized, and the passenger was issued a report for an administrative offense.
The Burgas Regional Customs Directorate reminded travelers of the limits for taking cigarettes with Bulgarian excise stamps out of the country:
- For flights to another EU country – up to 40 packs;
- For flights outside the EU – up to 10 packs.
Customs officials advise travelers to also check the regulations of their destination country, as restrictions there may be even stricter. If the quantities carried exceed the limit, a fine and confiscation of the cigarettes will follow.