Bulgarian customs officers seize 70 kg of heroin at Turkish border‎

Bulgarian customs officers seize 70 kg of heroin at Turkish border‎

2011-07-09 00:17:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

SOFIA (BNO NEWS) -- Bulgarian customs and anti-mafia police officers captured a heroin shipment of over 70 kg (154 pounds) worth some $4.39 million, Sofia News Agency reported on Friday.

Authorities busted the massive drug trafficking channel from Turkey on July 6 when customs officers at the Kapitan-Andreevo crossing point on the border with Turkey inspected a car with a 32-year-old Bulgarian driver and his family. They found a 30-liter plastic container with green detergent and 31 packages of heroin in the trunk of the car.

Heroin shipments were also found in three other cars coming in from Turkey. Two other cars with families were busted shortly after that, carrying similar plastic containers with detergent and heroin hidden inside them. Subsequently, heroin was found hidden in baby diapers in a van with 5 adults and one child.

A total of 10 "mules" were arrested by the Bulgarian police, together with a Roma mafia boss, who is believed to have ordered the shipment of the drugs.

The mules told police they were paid only 5 Bulgarian levs ($3.64) for transporting a detergent container.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-09