Customs officers detain over 22 million leva of undeclared currency and gold at the end of 2025

Undeclared 60,000 euros were found by customs officers at the Kapitan Andreevo Customs Office during an inspection of a truck leaving the country, the Customs Agency announced.

On December 29, a truck convoy with a tractor and semi-trailer with Turkish registration arrived at the checkpoint. The driver - a Turkish citizen, declared that he was transporting goods from Western Europe through Bulgaria to Turkey. After a risk analysis, the vehicle was selected for a thorough customs inspection. During the control actions, the inspectors found euro banknotes in the pockets of the two seats in the driver's cab. 60,000 euros with a lev equivalent of 117,349.80 leva were found.

A pre-trial investigation has been initiated in the case by an investigating customs inspector, which is being conducted under the supervision of the Haskovo Regional Prosecutor's Office.

In 2025, the customs officers at "Kapitan Andreevo" detained currency with a lev equivalent of over 11,500,000 leva (5,879,856 EUR).

Undeclared currency for 166,850 leva (85,309.05 euros in euros, dollars and British pounds, as well as 426 grams of gold) was detained by customs officers at "Kalotina" during checks on three separate trucks with Turkish registration, entering the country.

In one of the cases on December 28, a truck with Turkish registration arrived at the checkpoint. The driver – a Turkish citizen, presented to the customs officers documents for the transported goods – auto parts, metal and plastic products from Germany to Turkey. After a risk analysis, the customs officers selected the vehicle for a thorough customs inspection. During the control actions in the driver's cab, in a suitcase and in one of the pillows of the bed, a total of 54,700 euros and 6890 US dollars were found.

On the same day, 21,600 British pounds were found in another truck transporting goods from France to Turkey. 11,600 British pounds were found in a small bag in the driver's cab, and the other 10,000 British pounds were found during a personal search of the driver with Turkish citizenship, who had hidden them in his socks.

The third case is from December 29, when in a truck, after dismantling the plastic cover of the steering box under the steering wheel, customs officers found 426 grams of gold, in a package wrapped in a black T-shirt. It was established that the gold is owned by the driver of the truck.

The total amount of the detained currency with an equivalent of BGN 166,850 or EUR 85,309.05 and gold products have been detained. Violators were issued acts under the Currency Act and the Customs Act.

The European Commission is providing over 2,400,000 euros for the equipment of customs laboratories. The funding is provided under the Financial Support Instrument for Equipment for Customs Control (CCEI).

52 pieces (31 types) of technical means and measuring instruments intended for the Bulgarian customs laboratories will be acquired through the Financial Support Instrument for Equipment for Customs Control (CCEI). 40% of the expected equipment will replace existing, but morally obsolete or non-functioning equipment.