site.btaNearly BGN 140,000-Worth of Gold and Silver Jewelry Seized at Border with Turkey

Customs inspectors at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the border with Turkey seized gold and silver jewelry worth nearly BGN 140,000 while inspecting a bus, the Customs Agency said on Tuesday.

The Turkish-registered bus bound from Turkey for Romania arrived at the checkpoint on July 31. The two drivers and the passengers said they had nothing to declare. A thorough check found that a secret compartment above the spare tyre contained 23 packs of white- and yellow-metal rings, earrings, pendants, chains and necklaces. An expert concluded that the haul comprised 1,431.47 grams of 14-carat gold and 1,571 g of silver jewels, worth a total of BGN 139,829. All of it was impounded.

Pre-trial proceedings are underway under the supervision of the Haskovo District Prosecution Service.

The Turkish driver, who was released on bail, is barred from leaving Bulgaria except by permission of the supervising prosecutor.