Bulgaria's organised crime police detained 11 people and searched 31 addresses in a raid on a scheme to drain money from a water and sewage company through public procurement contracts, the interior ministry said. Investigators say the group has operated in Burgas and Sofia since February 2024.

The raid took place yesterday in several towns and cities. The Burgas district prosecutor's office is supervising the case, and regional interior ministry directorates helped.

The damage to the state runs to millions of euros. Two of the contracts alone were paid more than €6.65m (13m leva) without VAT, or about €6.65m, and nearly €8.18m (16m leva) with VAT, or about €8.18m.

The contracts were for reservoirs and water tanks that supply drinking water to several local systems. Investigators say the work was done on paper only, was poor and incomplete, but was accepted and paid in full. The client and the contractor agreed on this in advance.

On one contract, the payment was twice the value announced at the start. The extra money was added through additional agreements for unforeseen costs. On another contract, repairs were paid for in the same way without being carried out, and part of the work was calculated per square metre.

Investigators have evidence that the repairs reported and paid for do not match the state of the sites handed over. Making a stainless steel ladder cost €869.20 (1,700 leva), or about €869.20. Making and fitting a PVC door to a water chamber cost 3,200 leva, or about €1,636.13.

Most of the money went to people linked to the investigation, the police say.

The investigation is into an organised criminal group set up for profit. It concerns offences by public officials under Article 321(3), in conjunction with paragraph 1, and Article 256(2), in conjunction with paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code. Those detained are held as suspects under the Interior Ministry Act, with a measure allowing the media to be informed.

Officers searched 7 homes and carried out 24 crime scene inspections. They seized more than €20,000 in various currencies, investment coins, jewellery and watches. They also took many documents, notebooks and electronic devices with information on the case, as well as ammunition of different types and calibres.

38 people have been questioned as witnesses. The investigation continues.