They are accused of offences against industrial property and the public treasury, as well as money laundering and forming part of a criminal organisation. The operation represents yet another example of the fruitful cooperation between the Chief Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of the Bulgarian Home Affairs Ministry and the Spanish National Police Force and Customs Surveillance Department.
To date, 20 Bulgarian citizens and two Spaniards have been arrested. Further arrests have not been ruled out. In Spain, three illegal cigarettes factories owned by the Bulgarian criminal organisation have been shut down. Based on the volume of material seized and the technical equipment at the factories closed down, this operation can be considered as one of the most significant in the fight against organised crime.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria and the President of the Government of Spain spoke by telephone to comment on the development of this operation, which stems from the excellent cooperation between the police forces of the two countries.
Ministerio del Interior