Drastic increase in seized drugs and exposed criminal groups in Sofia

The Director of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, Chief Commissioner Boyan Raev, and the Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova announced the alarming statistical data at a special briefing at the Courthouse in Sofia. According to them, the seized quantities of drugs for the first five months of 2025 have increased dramatically compared to 2024 - by 168% for cocaine, 346% for marijuana, 123.4% for cannabis, 884% for precursors, 449% for methamphetamine and 72.7% for amphetamine.

At the same time, the number of specialized police operations carried out by the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime has also increased significantly - from 26 for the same period in 2024 to 36 so far in 2025. The activities of 12 organized criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking have been terminated, while for the same period of the previous year there were 6.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria also reports a serious increase in the detected crimes related to narcotic substances. Throughout 2024, 4121 acts were submitted to the court, and 5304 persons were convicted with final sentences. For the first quarter of 2025, 1132 acts have already been submitted, and 1460 persons have been convicted.

Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova emphasized that this "business" is extremely dangerous for society, as it is associated with the commission of numerous other serious crimes such as theft, violence, money laundering, driving under the influence, and traffic accidents. She also noted the alarming trend of more and more minors and juveniles becoming involved in this criminal circle, calling on parents and society to closely monitor the behavior of young people.