PM Borisov vowed to tackle the illegal trade during a visit to the Varna West Port in the Black Sea capital.
The PM's visit, which saw him accompanied by Vanyo Tanov, head of the country's customs agency, coincided with news that nine million contraband cigarettes had been confiscated on the same day at the same port.
The cigarettes, from the Palermo and Ibiza brands, were located by Varna Customs agents on a ship that was travelling under an Antigua and Barbuda flag from Poti in Georgia to Varna via Burgas.
The PM pointed out that his cabinet has achieved much greater results than previous governments in the fight against cigarette contraband, as evidenced by the fact that they have seized large quantities such contraband.
According to Borisov, customs agents are now trying to use scanners and other technical equipment in an attempt to limit the human factor, because in a resort city like Varna smuggled cigarettes are easy to sell for huge profits that could be used to bribe customs agents.
"The issue here is to find out who kept quiet about the smuggling and why; fire them and make them face legal charges," the PM warned, adding that he and Tanov were using "small tricks" to monitor cigarette contraband and were working in partnership with the EU, where the focus is precisely on such contraband.
"Losses from contraband Cosmos cigarettes in Germany and the UK amount to BGN 5 billion. I hope that by the end of the day one of the largest EU anti-smuggling operations will come to conclusion," Borisov stated.
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