"The fight against drug trafficking and drug distribution must be strengthened in every way, which is a goal set after the National Security Advisory Council under President Rumen Radev. This was said today in Razgrad by the Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov, who attended the presentation of the annual report for 2024 of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Razgrad together with the acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov", BTA reported.
Mitov explained that this was one of the topics discussed during the report. The fight against the gray sector in the economy, smuggling and all kinds of financial abuses that damage the budget were also among the main topics on which emphasis was placed.
"Our budget is in a state that we have found after four years of experiments by anyone and everyone, said Daniel Mitov. He also commented that he will not allow anyone to use the Ministry of Interior for political purposes, for illegal arrests.
According to him, the commitment of the Ministry of Interior leadership to the Ministry of Interior Directorate in Razgrad and to other directorates is to provide better working conditions. Part of these better conditions are the increased salaries, which, according to him, are fully deserved, and with this the requirements are also increased.
Regarding road safety, Minister Mitov noted that the police officers in Razgrad have paid very serious attention to it. He said that the work in this regard must continue and improve, and he hopes that the measures at the national level will also have their impact in Razgrad.
Minister Mitov said that work is underway to connect the toll system cameras with the system in the Ministry of Interior. He said that he hopes to achieve the third element - connecting the municipal surveillance systems with the Ministry of Interior system. According to him, it will be a little more complicated there, but a solution will be found.
The Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Razgrad, Senior Commissioner Diyan Simeonov, presented the report on the institution's activities in 2024.
He explained that the statistical data for last year shows an increase in the level of registered crimes compared to 2023. "There is a positive trend in crimes of possession and distribution of narcotics and intoxicants, as well as in driving a vehicle by drivers who have used narcotics and intoxicants or alcohol. 1,159 crimes were registered, compared to 1,093 in the previous year, 2023", reported the director of the Ministry of Interior's Office in the city.
According to Senior Commissioner Diyan Simeonov, there was also an increase in detection rates by 2.5 percent.
"A total of 449 accidents were registered by road control on the territory of Razgrad, of which 140 were serious with six deaths and 178 injuries. In 2023, 438 accidents were registered, of which 145 were serious with eight deaths and 196 injuries. Despite the slight increase of 10 in the total number of registered accidents, the number of deaths has reached its lowest point since 2008 - six people," noted the director of the regional directorate.
In 2024, 28 frauds were registered, of which four were telephone frauds, and the detection rate was 14. The victims are elderly people who have landline phones in their homes, with calls being made from mobile numbers in Bulgaria. The carriers of the funds from criminal activity, known colloquially as “mules“, have been identified, and in one of the frauds - the amount of 15,000 leva was returned to the victim.
"In crimes of possession and distribution of narcotic substances, an increase of 35 percent compared to 2023 is reported. There has also been an increase in the use of electronic devices such as "vapes". Nearly 40 kg of marijuana, methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, 237 electronic vapes, hallucinogenic mushrooms, ecstasy, ampoules of morphine, a liquid substance that reacts to marijuana, and bottles of "laughing gas" were seized. A room was found by the criminal police in which hemp plants were grown, as well as five portable "tent"-type facilities for growing marijuana. A 10 percent increase was also recorded in the pre-trial proceedings initiated for driving after using narcotics. The largest number of cases of drivers who used drugs were found in the territory of Razgrad - 32", reported Senior Commissioner Diyan Simeonov.
Cases of domestic violence also increased by 29 percent, and this trend has been observed over the past five years, noted Senior Commissioner Simeonov. 49 crimes were registered, and an increase was also recorded in the number of domestic violence reports. Police officers responded to 102 such reports, and assistance was provided to 70 victims of domestic violence. 57 women, seven men and 15 children were victims of domestic violence.
The main type of economic crimes is related to the use of a false document for the purpose of illegally obtaining sick leave, with 15 frauds with damages of over 545,000 leva being established.
"Six pre-trial proceedings and 17 inspections for trade in excise goods without a tax stamp were initiated. "6220 pieces of cigarettes, 18 kg of factory-cut tobacco, 981 liters of high-alcohol liquid without a tax stamp were seized," reported the director of the Ministry of Interior's Regional Office in Razgrad, Senior Commissioner Diyan Simeonov.