Bulgarian authorities seized about 436 kilograms (960 pounds) of heroin at the Black Sea port of Burgas, according to AP News.
The district prosecutor’s office reported on Monday that the heroin was stashed in 434 packages hidden inside an officially declared cargo in a trailer. The drug load is estimated to be worth 35 million euros (nearly $38 million).
The cargo arrived in late July via an overland route from Kyrgyzstan to the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi, from where it crossed to Burgas. The next stop was supposed to be Alexandroupolis in Greece.
The trailer, believed to be carrying cable-laying machines, aroused suspicion due to its strangely long stay at the port, Ivan Sokolov, head of the anti-drug department, reported. According to him, an X-ray examination led to the discovery of hidden heroin. District prosecutor Georgi Chinev stated:
So far, there have been no arrests, and no persons found involved in this cross-border crime.
Drug trafficking in Bulgaria is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Bulgaria, which is on the route of drug flows from the Middle East to Western Europe, has taken extensive action in recent years to prevent drug trafficking.
