National Customs Agency

Customs officials at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Crossing Point seized 265,400 illicit cigarettes (13,270 packs) concealed in a cargo vehicle transporting machinery to Germany.

On 31 October 2025, late in the evening, a truck with foreign registration, driven by a Turkish national, arrived at the checkpoint on entry into the country. The driver presented documents indicating that he was transiting machinery and mechanical equipment from Turkey to Germany through Bulgaria and declared that he had no additional goods to report.

Following a risk assessment, the vehicle was selected for a thorough customs inspection. During the control procedures, X-ray scanning revealed areas of suspicious density within the cargo. A subsequent physical examination uncovered cartons of illicit cigarettes placed on top of the declared goods and located in the front section of the trailer.

A total of 265,400 cigarettes (13,270 packs) of various brands, bearing Turkish excise stamps, were seized. The estimated market value of the undeclared tobacco products amounts to 100,074 BGN (approximately 51,167 EUR).

Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated by a customs investigative officer under the supervision of the Haskovo District Prosecutor’s Office.