Balgarianovinite.com Police detained seven people over suspected laughing gas distribution along the Southern Black Sea Coast, Sozopol Police Department Chief Inspector Ivaylo Dragiev said on Thursday. About 440 kg of laughing gas was seized.
The detainees are from various parts of Bulgaria and had been doing seasonal work in Sozopol and nearby resorts, Dragiev said.
Preliminary information indicates they were part of an organized network distributing laughing gas along the Southern Black Sea coast, with each linked in different ways to the seized consignment. The record haul, about 440 kg, was delivered on a pallet to the resort town and readied for distribution to entertainment venues.
Dragiev said police received a tip earlier on Thursday that a large quantity of laughing gas was to be delivered to the Billa supermarket in Sozopol for onward distribution to discos, bars and other venues along the Southern Black Sea coast.
“After receiving the tip-off, we took the necessary measures. At one point, we found a pallet in the store car park, next to three cars. People from one of the cars began moving boxes of laughing gas into another car, after which we intervened,” Dragiev said.
The pallet was unloaded by the supplier at about 5 pm on Thursday. Police found 80 boxes containing large 5 kg canisters of laughing gas. The total amount seized was 440 kg.
The operation is part of Interior Ministry priorities to combat the distribution of drugs and laughing gas among minors.
“One of the Sozopol Police Department’s main tasks is specifically to counter the illegal distribution of laughing gas. To this end, we have carried out a number of operational activities,” Dragiev said.
Authorities have stepped up action against laughing gas use among minors over the past year. In February, Parliament approved at first reading amendments to the Health Act restricting minors’ access to laughing gas, tightening rules on its sale, distribution and storage, and allowing the temporary or permanent closure of establishments that repeatedly trade in nitrous oxide in breach of the law. The State Agency for Child Protection and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy also launched a school campaign in which doctors and athletes warn children about the effects of nitrous oxide, designer drugs and vapes.
Police have also carried out several large laughing gas seizures. In July 2025, Sofia police seized more than 120,000 units worth nearly BGN 20 million, intended for bars and discos in Sofia and on the Black Sea coast, as well as for export. In August 2025, police found more than 50 boxes of laughing gas bottles and balloons in two cars near Chernomorets, allegedly intended for distribution along the Southern Black Sea coast. In May 2026, a nationwide Interior Ministry operation included checks of more than 39,800 people and 3,018 sites, with authorities finding more than 8,000 ml of laughing gas. Seven Detained over Laughing Gas Distribution in Sozopol 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-02 19:54:55 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