Nikolov is among the defendants in the affair with customs, together with the former director of the "Customs" Agency Petya Bankova and the former Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Zhivko Kotsev.
The accusation against him is for participation in an organized criminal group for crimes against the financial system of Bulgaria.
Nikola Nikolov, known by the nickname Pascal, was detained around 19:00 on Friday near a clinic in Belgrade that he was visiting. He had documents and proof of his treatment there.
"He has been receiving treatment there intermittently for two years, it is not now in connection with the proceedings against him. He was given the opportunity to appeal the detention. The case was heard in the early hours of Saturday, 5am, as far as I know. So far, his arrest has been confirmed," said Galya Galabova - Nikola Nikolov's lawyer.
On the affair with the "Customs" Agency at the beginning of April, former director Petya Bankova and her deputy were detained. And more - father and son from Haskovo - Stefan and Martin Dimitrovi. The former Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zhivko Kotsev, was also charged in the case. Nikolov's lawyer stated that he does not know the others accused of participating in an organized criminal group.
"I rule out an acquaintance, if we can call it an acquaintance at all, with one of the participants in the OPG, who is Mr. Nikolov's age and they are from the same area. Their acquaintance goes as far as that, but this certainly does not imply participation in criminal activity", pointed out Galya Galabova.