Bulgaria: Largest Cannabis Seizure in15 Years

Published: 06 July 2012

By

Bulgarian police have seized 12 tons of hashish, worth about €360 million (US$445 million), destined for the European Union (EU) market, according to Director of the Main Unit for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) Staminir Florov.

He said Thursday that authorities found the cannabis resin in a warehouse in Mirovyane, a village near the capital of Sofia. It came from Morocco, and authorities believe fishermen transported it via the Black Sea.

This seizure beats the Monday seizure of 4 metric tons of cannabis in Vidin, a city on the border with Romania. Authorities believe the two shipments may be linked.

According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Bulgaria has emerged as a major cannabis producer in the past three years. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report for 2012 states that production and use of cannabis in Bulgaria are on the rise.

According to UNODC, cannabis sold in Europe traditionally comes from Morocco, although Afghani cannabis is becoming more prevalent.