Police raided illegal cigarette factory near Botevgrad

An illegal cigarette factory was uncovered near Botevgrad, Western Bulgaria.

According to BNT sources, it was linked to the former office of “Criminal Police”, Lubo Ivanov, who was killed in the capital's Lozenets residential district in March. Ivanov was shot dead with three bullets in front of his home in broad daylight. In the past, he was wanted on an Interpol red notice for a crime related to illegal cigarettes.

Police teams are on site. So far, one person has been detained. The police are searching for another man involved in the scheme.

Sleeping quarters with all the necessary conditions for the workers had been set up so that the production cycle is not interrupted and the factory can work around the clock.

"There is raw material here, there are machines for the production of cigarettes, there are also packaging machines, and we are currently identifying finished products that are ready to be sold on the illegal market," said Yavor Serafimov, the deputy director of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime.

Where was this market - within the country or for export?

Mostly for export. There are premises where the workers are housed, which means that workers in a continuous production cycle stay in the room and work without leaving it. There are all the living conditions inside - bathroom, toilet, beds, added Yavor Serafimov.

One hundred masterboxes a day were produced by the workers in the workshop. The cigarettes were intended for export.

The police said there may be further arrests.

images by BNT and Ministry of Interior