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Foreign Ministry warns Bulgarians against being drug mules

Wed, Oct 14 2009 13:52 CET

byNick Iliev

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Foreign Ministry warns Bulgarians against being drug mules

Panamanian police put 1845 kilos of cocaine and heroin on display at their headquarters in Panama City
Photo: Alberto Lowe

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has issued a stern warning to all Bulgarians about the risk, dangers and harsh punishments facing those involved in international drug smuggling.

An increase of cases where Bulgarians were apprehended in Latin and South America, Asia and across Europe has prompted the warning in an attempt to curb drug trafficking, a Foreign Ministry press release announced on October 14 2009.

There are more than 300 Bulgarian nationals currently serving time in Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Italy, France and a number of other countries, in Europe and elsewhere. Some of them face particularly tough sentences, the report said.

The ministry would also like to stress the fact that in some countries around the world, such as Iran, Singapore, and other predominantly Moslem nations, drug trafficking usually carries the death sentence.

Most Bulgarians involved in drug smuggling come from a deprived background. They are usually disenfranchised, socially rejected, devoid of education and opportunities, victims of blackmail or members of drug cartels and mafia-like organisations. Sometimes they feel they have little choice but to risk their freedom for the benefit of criminal groups, the report said.

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