35 pistols, some of which were incomplete, as well as cartridges and magazines, were seized by customs officers at the Lesovo border checkpoint during an inspection of a passenger car entering the country.
On 10.03.2025, at around 15:30, a passenger car with Dutch registration arrived at the Lesovo customs checkpoint, traveling from Turkey to the Netherlands. The car was driven by a Turkish citizen, and a passenger in the car had dual citizenship - Turkish and North Macedonian.
The vehicle and the people were selected for a thorough customs inspection, during which customs inspectors established that a total of 35 pistols, 10 live cartridges and 3 magazines were being transported in personal luggage - in two backpacks. Five of the combat pistols were found to be fully equipped, and the rest were found to have a missing slide.
The work on the case continues. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated based on the inventory of the Burgas Customs Department under the supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office - Yambol.
I.M., a citizen of Turkey and North Macedonia, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was detained for 72 hours. He is accused of smuggling 5 combat pistols and ammunition for them into Bulgarian territory. The crime is classified under Art. 242, para. 1, b. „d“ of the Criminal Code.
An expert examination will be ordered for the thirty pistols with a missing slide to determine whether they are also district firearms within the meaning of the law.