Police seize 73 kilos of heroin in Bulgaria

Bulgaria lies on the main drug-trafficking route from Turkey to Western Europe and heroin shipments are regularly seized at its borders.

SOFIA, March 5, 2010 (AFP) - Bulgarian authorities broke up a drug-smuggling ring and seized 73 kilogrammes (161 pounds) of heroin Friday in the central region of Stara Zagora, police said.

The operation began with an early morning raid, when a 24-year-old Bulgarian man was arrested in the central town of Shipka with 117 packages of heroin hidden in his car.

Two other local men, aged 45 and 27, were later arrested for links to the gang, with one of them surrendering another 29 packages of heroin to police.

Two other men were also subsequently arrested for suspected connections with the trafficking ring.

Bulgaria lies on the main drug-trafficking route from Turkey to Western Europe and heroin shipments are regularly seized at its borders.