Tax Evasion Scheme Disrupted in Plovdiv

Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (SANS ) and Economic Police identified a scheme for tax evasion and money laundering after investigating trade in smuggled fuels. Initially 10 people were detained, 2 are still in custody. During inspections at four petrol stations in Plovdiv and Haskovo, 100 000 liters of fuels without proven origin were found. Currency worth more than 1 million and 900 thousand BGN was found in the course of the investigation, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Plovdiv announced on 17^th of November.

The inspections found that at each of the petrol stations the fuel columns were not linked to the National Revenue Agency. Three of the petrol stations are located in Harmanli and on the territory of Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint. The other one is in the area of the Customs House in Plovdiv.

The petrol station in Plovdiv was hired by the arrested businessman Emil Vlasov, who represented the company Avtolend. The investigators carried out searches at homes in Bourgas and Plovdiv, where undeclared 750,000 and 400,000 BGN were found. 20 witnesses were interviewed and 10 detained in a period of 24 hours.

The prosecutor's office will press charges for VAT evasion in particularly large sizes against businessman Emil Vlasov from Plovdiv, who also allegedly used fronts to sell the fuel. On 18^th of November, prosecution will request remand in custody for Vlassov and an associate, who was accused of laundering the proceeds from the illegal activities.