Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

An organized crime group involved in the export of dual-use goods to Russia busted in Plovdiv

Photo: Stoyan Terziev, Radio Plovdiv

An organized crime group involved in the export of dual-use goods to Russia has been uncovered in Plovdiv. 12 people were arrested - three Russian nationals, seven Bulgarian citizens, one Albanian citizen and one citizen of Belarus. Five of them have been indicted. The dual-use goods included binoculars, telescopic sights, etc. The group has been active since early 2021. 

Purchases for over EUR 2 million have been made. The items were bought abroad, repackaged in Plovdiv, delivered to Sofia and later sent to Russia. The items were used in the war against Ukraine. "They were not intended for the regular Russian army, but for the special forces fighting in Ukraine - the 26th special purpose unit, the naval infantry, the Wagner Group, etc.", explained the head of the State Agency for National Security Plamen Tonchev.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Ex-PM Boyko Borisov: Delyan Peevski is unfairly sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act

GERB leader Boyko Borisov has told the media that he personally participated in talks with American representatives on the lifting of the Magnitsky sanctions against Bulgarian citizens. He said that he also spoke on the subject with David Cameron while..

published on 11/5/25 9:04 PM

Weather forecast: The clouds and rain continue, no rain in the Southwest

On Thursday minimum temperatures will range between 6 and 11° C., for Sofia around 8° C. During the day the weather will continue cloudy and rainy. The rain will be more significant in Eastern Bulgaria, and in the afternoon – in Central Bulgaria...

published on 11/5/25 6:35 PM
Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev

European Commission withholds payment under recovery and resilience plan over failure to implement anti-corruption reforms

The European Commission has decided to withhold EUR 215 million from the second payment under Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan, the EC told the Bulgarian National Radio. The country is to receive EUR 439 million. EU may cut money for..

published on 11/5/25 4:39 PM