Balgarianovinite.com Bulgarian authorities have uncovered one of the largest illegal cigarette factories in the country, detaining two men in connection with the operation.
The suspects, aged 52 and 56, have been held for up to 72 hours by an order of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyustendil. They are charged with illegal possession of illicit tobacco products in large quantities, which carries between two and eight years in prison.
The detention follows a large-scale operation by the General Directorate Border Police, which has been monitoring an organized criminal group involved in the illegal production and distribution of cigarettes since the beginning of the year, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov said. The operation, conducted on April 2, 2026, aimed to reach the middle and upper levels of the group’s hierarchy. “This is one of the largest illegal cigarette factories in the country uncovered in recent years,” Zlatanov added.
Investigators discovered a high-tech factory in warehouse facilities in the Northern Industrial Zone of Dupnitsa, where over 11 tons of shredded tobacco and 651 masterboxes of finished cigarettes were seized, primarily intended for markets in Central and Western Europe. In the village of Krivina, Sofia Region, authorities found an additional 180 masterboxes and a truck linked to the illegal factory’s operations.
“At average market prices, the total value of the entire production is approximately 1.3 million euros,” stated Zlatanov. The investigation involved both the General Directorate Border Police and the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyustendil. Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov and District Prosecutor Albena Razsolkova participated in the briefing.
According to investigators, the equipment in the factory is worth millions of euros, including modern production lines, machines for filters and paper, and facilities for packaging cigarettes of a well-known global brand. The site operated in cycles with a high level of secrecy, featuring specially built sleeping quarters, a kitchen, a bathroom, soundproofing, and video surveillance. The building was rented under a lease agreement.
The detained individuals have previous criminal records. One has been convicted and later rehabilitated in Bulgaria, while the other has convictions in Hungary and France for drug trafficking, said Prosecutor Albena Razsolkova. According to investigators, one of the detainees handled logistics, while the other served an organizational role.
The supervising prosecutor will submit a request to the District Court in Dupnitsa to impose pretrial detention. The hearing is scheduled for Monday at 9.30 am at the District Court in Dupnitsa, Razsolkova added.
The investigation is ongoing, with additional procedural and investigative actions expected, as well as the identification of other participants in the scheme. Law Enforcers Uncover One of Largest Illegal Cigarette Factories, Two Detained 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-04 09:24:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law