Customs officers stopped a van with Bulgarian plates near the Danube Bridge in Ruse and found 73,960 cigarettes hidden inside, Bulgaria's Customs Agency says. The van was checked on 27 September and was on its way to Germany.

Officers found factory-built hollow spaces and specially made hiding spots holding 3,698 packs of various brands.

The cigarettes carried valid Bulgarian tax stamps, but the driver could not produce the papers needed to carry such large amounts. He now faces a fine under the law on excise duties and tax warehouses.

The agency says the check is part of extra steps it has taken to make up for the border checks that stopped after Bulgaria joined Schengen.