Kidnapping for Financial Gain Uncovered: Man Held for Three Days by Fake Police Officers

Authorities have uncovered the kidnapping of a man carried out for financial gain. Posing as police officers, the perpetrators held a 42-year-old man for three days, moving him between locations with a bag over his head, and extorted close to 100,000 leva. The crime dates back to early July this year. Six people have been charged, including a 27-year-old woman.

The man was abducted in Sofia and held against his will at three different addresses in areas around the capital. He was forcibly moved between locations with his head covered. Investigators say the main motive for the abduction was unresolved financial disputes between the victim and some of the perpetrators. Using special surveillance methods, the Ministry of Interior established that the victim had previously been involved in smuggling migrants across the border. He was forced to transfer nearly 94,000 leva to his captors.

Desislava Petrova, Deputy Sofia City Prosecutor:
“While he was being moved by force, his wallet containing bank cards and the keys to his home were taken. He was compelled to give his abductors access to his bank accounts. That is why we are investigating the transfer of nearly 94,000 leva from his account via online banking. We believe these funds have now been converted into cryptocurrencies.”

After transferring the money, the man was released in Sofia and reported the crime by calling the emergency number 112.

Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, Director of Sofia Metropolitan Police:
“Our leading theory is that these are individuals who were previously involved in the illegal smuggling of migrants across the border. Following the sharp decline in the migrant flow, this business has become far less profitable, leading to a redistribution of illegally acquired funds from that activity.”

Police have also established that a second kidnapping was being prepared. The intended target was a former trafficker, who was to be held in a specially adapted house in Plovdiv.

Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov:
“He had more than one million US dollars in a crypto wallet, and the intention was for him to transfer the money in the same way as in the case of our current victim.”

photos by BTA

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged six people in connection with the kidnapping. All face charges of unlawful deprivation of liberty, while three of them have also been charged specifically with abduction.