The heroin for nearly 17 million of the mattresses traveled to Romania

The seized record shipment of over 400 kg of heroin worth nearly BGN 17 million at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing was supposed to be delivered to the Romanian capital Bucharest, it became clear today in the Haskovo District Court. The judge on duty, Anna Petkova, determined the most serious measure of remand, “detention in custody” for the 64-year-old driver from Turkey Huseyn Khair.

As we have already reported, the large amount of drugs was found in mattresses loaded in Iran. An interesting fact is that the truck was X-rayed at customs in Iran and Azerbaijan. At Kapakule, the Turkish checkpoint adjacent to Kapitan Andreevo, all the goods were also unloaded and checked, but the neighboring customs officers did not find the heroin hidden in the factory and let the truck pass to our border.

At Kapitan Andreevo, the shooting range was checked for nearly 30 hours before the tape-shaped packages with the drug were discovered. The inspectors were first impressed by the discrepancy of about 400 kg more than the declared weight of the cargo.

“I am a victim. I am a long time driver and this has never happened to me. I felt sick when they found what was in the mattresses,” Hussain told the court.

The thesis that the 64-year-old driver did not actually know about the contraband was argued by his official lawyer Gergana Pisarova. “Khair traveled for nearly 20 days from Iran to Bulgaria. They checked it at 3 borders before, after a 30-hour search for Captain Andreevo, the heroin was discovered,” commented the lawyer. “There is no way for my defender to estimate when exactly he will complete the inspection of Kapakule in order to choose to pass, just when Captain Andreevo was being given way and stood up for the customs shifts,” added lawyer Pisarova.

According to prosecutor Darina Slavova, Yusein should have remained in custody because the investigation was at the very beginning and evidence was still being collected, whether the trafficker knew about the smuggling or had no idea about the drug. “However, it is doubtful that such a large quantity of heroin would be entrusted for transportation to a completely unknown driver. Thus, the organizers run the risk that the drug will be discovered at the slightest infraction by the driver, even on the road. It is also doubtful that such an experienced driver was not impressed by the difference of 400 kg more than the declared load weight.

When asked by the court if he was able to pay bail, Khair replied that he was poor, had 3 children and a wife, but was ready to go to his homeland and take out credit for the bail.

So Themida decided that the Turkish citizen should remain in custody.

The ruling is not final and is subject to appeal within 3 days before the Court of Appeal – Plovdiv.