HEAD OF BULGARIA’S CUSTOMS AGENCY: ANTICORRUPTION OPERATIONS ACT ALSO AS A DETERRENT

Six of the customs officers detained during an anticorruption operation at Lesovo checkpoint will remain in custody. Other six were released on bail. So out of 34 detained customs officers, 12 have been charged, pending a decision of the Prosecutor’s office regarding which of the six detained will be remanded in custody.

The Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, Rosalia Dimitrova, told BNT morning programme “The Day Begins” on 4th of November that two years ago there had been a similar anticorruption operation at Kapitan Andreevo check point at the border with Turkey. She said she believed that such operations might act as a prevention and given all the measures undertaken by the management of the customs agency, she thought those customs officers would not become further involved in corruption activities. Dimitorva said the customs agency was supportive of such operations as they might have preventative effect, but probably time was needed for change of the mindset of such customs officers who were inclined to get involved in corrupt practices. According to her, this would not be the last anticorruption operation at customs check points and hoped they would lead to convictions which would also act a deterrent to other customs officers.

She commented that the customs agency did not tolerate corrupt activities and added that the government closed down Svilengrad customs house because of repeated wrongdoings.