Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told reporters in parliament that his predecessor Boyko Rashkov (We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria) acquainted him with Stefan Dimitrov and his father Marin Dimitrov, who stand accused of smuggling and who were detained in last week’s operation by the State Agency for National Security at the National Customs Agency.

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Together with the former Director of the National Customs Agency Petya Bankova they have been charged as participants in an organized crime group active in smuggling. Kalin Stoyanov made this statement in parliament shortly before appearing at the hearing of the ad hoc commission investigating corruption practices at the National Customs Agency.

A few days ago photographs were leaked to the press, showing Stefan and Marin Dimitrov posing with former Interior Ministry Secretary General Zhivko Kotsev and with Boyko Rashkov, after which, at the proposal of the new caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, President Rumen Radev issued a decree dismissing Kotsev.

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Petya Bankova was also dismissed from the post.