Sofia – Twenty-three customs officers and businessmen have been arrested in a probe into corruption at a major checkpoint on Bulgaria’s border with Greece, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

BGN, close up. Modern filter. Denomination. Depicts a portraiture of Petar Beron, astronomer.

The investigation focuses on alleged kickbacks by Bulgarian transport firms to let trucks pass through the Kulata border point without a check.

Police carried out 83 raids on the homes of customs offices and transport firms in Kulata and Sofia, and seized 63 000 leva (€32 000) in cash, the spokesperson of the public prosecutor’s office, Rumiana Arnaoudova, said.

The operation, launched on Tuesday, led to a 6km tailback of trucks and buses.

The Bulgarian authorities have been embroiled in a years-long effort to stamp out graft, smuggling, tax fraud and human trafficking at the country’s border posts.

News24

15 June 2017

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