Ukrainian currency worth nearly BGN 400 000 was found in the walls of a minibus by customs officers

Customs officers at Lesovo BCP found undeclared 7 840 000 Ukrainian hryvnias with a leva equivalent of nearly 400 000 BGN in a minibus with Moldovan registration.

On 21.02.2023 the vehicle, driven by a Moldovan citizen with the initials S.V., arrived at the Lesovo BCP on an inbound route from Turkey. In the customs control area, the driver and the five passengers in the van said they had nothing to declare. During a subsequent customs check, including with specialized X-ray equipment, the inspectors found areas in the vehicle with questionable density.

In the course of the control actions, a total of 98 packages wrapped in black nylon were found in natural cavities in the walls of the van and in a cabinet next to the driver’s seat. It was found that the packages contained bundles of Ukrainian banknotes, and the total amount of undeclared currency was in the amount of 7 840 000 Ukrainian hryvnias with a leva equivalent of nearly 400 000 BGN. The driver subsequently stated in his written explanations that the hidden currency was his and placed it in the van in order to transport it to Moldova.