Regional Court in Stara Zagora has prolonged the arrest of Serbian Budimir Kujović, the judges decided after a two-hour heaing on the evening of January 1 2008.

Kujović has been accused of running a criminal organisation with the aim to traffic drugs.

His defence lawyer had demanded his release, as he said he was innocent.

Kujović had been arrested on December 30 in Plovdiv in connection with 60kg of heroin, which was intercepted at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint the day before. Three Bulgarians have been arrested in the same case.

When leaving the court, Kujović showed his middle finger to reporters, Dnes.bg said.

Kujović has been ordered to leave Bulgaria before and has been barred from staying in the country for a period of 10 years.