The Bulgarian Anti-Corruption Bureau (GDBOP) arrests a group for environmental crimes and money laundering

The four also carried out transactions outside the country, avoiding paying customs duties.

The activities of an organized criminal group, created for the purpose of committing money laundering, tax crimes and crimes against the environment, were neutralized after active actions by officers of the Directorate of Anti-Money Laundering and Corruption Prevention.

During a specialized operation, four people were detained for up to 24 hours under the Law on the Interior, including the leader of the group. Two people were charged, one of whom was charged with money laundering in the amount of 1,548,052 euros. Data was collected that other individuals were also involved in the criminal activity.

During the investigation, ten addresses were searched – personal properties and office premises. Over 1,500 bottles of freon of various types were found in a warehouse. Also seized were a car, a sum of money in the amount of over 70,000 euros, investment gold coins, jewelry and watches of high value, as well as numerous documents and items related to the pre-trial proceedings, conducted under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office – Plovdiv.

It was established that part of the criminal activity was carried out outside the territory of Bulgaria and was related to evading the payment of customs duties due for refrigerant gas (freon) originating from China. This was done by using documents with false content regarding the origin, quantity and quality of the goods.

The investigation has also established the import, storage, trade and distribution on the territory of Bulgaria and other EU Member States of significant quantities of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances in violation of European Union regulations.