U.S. Department Reports
2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
February 27, 2009
Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control
Bulgaria
I. Summary
Bulgaria is a transit country for heroin and cocaine, as well as a producer of illicit narcotics. Astride Balkan transit routes, Bulgaria is vulnerable to illegal flows of drugs, people, contraband, and money. Heroin distributed in Europe moves through Bulgaria from Southwest Asia and via the Northern Balkan route, while chemicals used for making heroin move through Bulgaria to Turkey and the Middle East. Marijuana and cocaine are also transported through Bulgaria. During the year, the Government of Bulgaria (GOB) initiated significant reform of its law enforcement authorities while maintaining drug seizures. The Bulgarian government has proven cooperative, working with many U.S. agencies, and has reached out to neighboring states to cooperate in interdicting the illegal flow of drugs and persons. The new Interior Minister and the drug police have committed to make progress, but their task is formidable. Corruption and effective implementation of legal and structural reforms remain major challenges. Bulgarian law enforcement agencies, investigators, prosecutors and judges suffer from public mistrust, and require widespread reforms, much more reliable political and public support, and strong leadership to develop the capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate illicit narcotics trafficking cases and other serious crimes effectively. Bulgaria is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.
II. Status of Country
In the past year, Bulgaria continued to be primarily a drug transit country for heroin and cocaine. To a lesser extent, it is a producer of synthetic narcotics, which remains a serious problem. Cannabis was the most used drug in Bulgaria followed by synthetics. According to NGOs and international observers, Bulgaria continues to be a source of synthetic drug production, and there were allegations that some illegal drugs were produced by pharmaceutical companies. From 2000 to 2006, heroin use declined steadily, largely due to increased societal understanding of risks associated with its intravenous use (e.g., HIV/AIDS). In 2007, heroin use increased and remained constant in 2008. Consumption of cocaine, which is expensive in Bulgaria, increased. Amphetamines are produced in Bulgaria for the domestic market as well as for export to Turkey and the Middle East. The GOB has emphasized its commitment to fight drug trafficking, but continues to face many challenges in its enforcement efforts. A notorious underworld boss and eleven members of his importing and drug trafficking organization operating in the southeast Black sea coastal area plea bargained and received sentences well below the minimum for this type of crime. The Bulgarian government participated in efforts with international drug enforcement authorities and continued to reach out to neighboring states to cooperate in interdicting the illegal flow of drugs and persons. The disarray in the Ministry of Interior following the April forced resignation of the Interior Minister amidst speculations of contacts with alleged drug lords had a particularly negative effect on Bulgaria’s efforts against crime. In addition, lack of financing and inadequate equipment to facilitate narcotics searches; widespread corruption, including especially in the Customs offices, and among the judiciary; and excessively formalistic judicial procedures continue to hamper counternarcotics efforts.
II. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2008
Policy Initiatives. The Bulgarian government has continued to implement the five-year National Strategy for Drug Control adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2003. The Criminal Code established punishments for drug possession, depending on the risk level of the substances. National programs for drug treatment and prevention have been consistently under-funded.
Law Enforcement Efforts. The Customs Agency under the Ministry of Finance, the State Agency for National Security (DANS) and several specialized police services under the Ministry of Interior, including the Directorate for Combating Organized and Serious Crime (which has been re-organized as part of the Ministry of Interior reform) and Border Police are engaged in counternarcotics efforts. The authorities maintained seizure rates for most substances, but dramatically increased seizures for cannabis. From January to September 2008, police seized 198 kg of heroin, 1 kg of cocaine, 330 kg of amphetamines, 2 liters of fluid precursor chemicals, 9,753 kg of dry and 13,306 kg of green cannabis and 51,236 tablets of psychotropic substances. During the year, the Customs Agency seized 1, 085 kg of heroin, 8 kg of cocaine, 101 kg of amphetamines, 55 kg of ecstasy, 9 kg of opium and 1,260 tablets of psychotropic substances. Bulgarian authorities shared information and developed joint operations with international law enforcement agencies. DANS closed one illegal amphetamine producing facility. Police and prosecutors also worked with foreign counterparts to obtain evidence on the use of offshore corporations and bank accounts by Bulgarian money launderers to hide drug proceeds. Bulgaria's Commission for asset forfeiture (an independent agency) filed charges under Bulgarian law against a U.S. cocaine trafficker convicted in federal court in Miami, using that U.S. conviction to proceed against his properties in Bulgaria.
Corruption. Corruption in various forms in the government remains a serious problem. During the year, MOI's reputation suffered after a series of high-profile scandals culminating with the forced resignation of the Interior Minister. In the wake of the scandal, the government initiated major legal and structural reforms of the Interior Ministry. However, the turbulence in the ministry damaged the morale of the ministry's officials. Some officials, including some from the drug unit, resigned to accept better paid positions with DANS. Despite some reforms in the Prosecution Service, the judiciary as a whole (which includes prosecutors, investigators, and judges) consistently receives poor scores in the area of public confidence in opinion polls. The Customs Agency has a decidedly mixed record, with some senior officials having ties to notorious public figures with known criminal connections.
Agreements and Treaties. Bulgaria is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1961 Single Convention as amended by its 1972 Protocol, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1990 Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds from Crime. Bulgaria is a party to the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols. The 1924 U.S.-Bulgarian Extradition Treaty and a 1934 supplementary treaty are in force.
Cultivation and Production. The only illicit drug crop known to be cultivated in Bulgaria is cannabis, primarily for domestic consumption. The full extent of this illicit drug cultivation is not precisely determined, but is a major source of supplementary income for retirees in some areas in the southwestern part of the country. Experts ascribe opportunistic cultivation of cannabis to the ready availability of uncultivated land and Bulgaria's amenable climate, particularly along the Greek border. Cannabis is not trafficked significantly beyond Bulgaria's own borders. Recent evidence suggests that there has been a decrease in the indigenous manufacture of synthetic stimulant products. Some illegal laboratories have relocated to Eastern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Armenia in order to be closer to consumers and to reduce risks associated with border crossings.
Drug Flow/Transit. Synthetic drugs, heroin, and cocaine are the main drugs transported through Bulgaria. Heroin from the Golden Crescent in Southwest Asia has traditionally been trafficked to Western Europe on the Balkan route from Turkey. The trend of heroin traffic moving by the more circuitous routes through the Caucasus and Russia to the north and through the Mediterranean to the south is strengthening. Other trafficking routes crossing Bulgaria pass through Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. In addition to heroin and synthetic drugs, smaller amounts of marijuana and cocaine also transit through Bulgaria. Sporadic cocaine shipments from South America are transported via boat to the Black Sea and Greece, then on to Western Europe. Precursor chemicals for the production of heroin pass from the Western Balkans through Bulgaria to Turkey and on to Afghanistan. Synthetic drugs produced in Bulgaria are also trafficked through Turkey to markets in Southwest Asia. Principal methods of transport for heroin and synthetics include buses, vans, TIR trucks, and cars, with smaller amounts sent by air. Cocaine is primarily trafficked into Bulgaria by air in small quantities, and in motor vehicles, and by maritime vessel in larger quantities.
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction. The Government includes methadone maintenance as a heroin treatment option in the national healthcare system. There are three state-run methadone programs, which provide treatment free of charge, and four private methadone clinics. There are 35 outpatient units and thirteen inpatient drug treatment facilities nationwide. None of these facilities has a separate unit for juvenile patients. The Bulgarian National Center for Addictions (NCA), which serves as a focal point and is co-funded by the EU Monitoring Center for Drug Addictions, conducts prevention campaigns and operates prevention and education centers in 18 out of Bulgaria's 28 administrative districts. The centers, financially supported by the municipalities, have been consistently under-funded which adversely effects staff retention. According to the NCA for 2007, 33.2 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported using drugs at least once. In 2007, 52 people overdosed using heroin and died, the highest number ever reported.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. DEA operations for Bulgaria are managed from the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. DEA's current emphasis in Bulgaria is on conducting and coordinating joint international investigations with MOI counterparts, providing DEA technical and legal expertise and assistance. DEA also strives to arrange for counter-narcotics training for Bulgarian law enforcement personnel. The United States also supports various programs through the State Department. Programs implemented by the Department of Justice (DOJ) support counternarcotics efforts of the Bulgarian legal system. These initiatives address a lack of adequate equipment, the need for improved administration of justice at all levels and insufficient cooperation among Bulgarian enforcement agencies. A DOJ resident legal advisor, funded by State Department INL assistance works with the Bulgarian government on law enforcement issues, including trafficking in drugs and persons, intellectual property, cyber-crime and other issues and a DOJ prosecutor advises the Bulgarian government on organized crime cases. DOJ has also provided technical advisors to assist the Interior Ministry in their reform efforts. The FBI has offered public corruption training for Bulgarian law enforcement officials.
The Road Ahead. As the U.S. and Bulgaria continue to cooperate to improve Bulgaria's capacity, the U.S. encourages the Bulgarian government to sustain and, if possible, increase rates of narcotics seizures, and reduce domestic drug production. The U.S. also encourages Bulgaria to demonstrate the political will necessary to break major organized crime rings by going after the profits derived from drug trafficking and prosecuting cases of high-level corruption and organized crime. It also encourages the Bulgarian government to strengthen interagency cooperation and increase its investment in law enforcement entities. Increased international assistance and engagement on law enforcement matters would boost Bulgaria's internal capacity and reinforce internal reforms.