Development: More Arrested for Illegal Import of Waste from Italy

Deputy Environment Minister Krassimir Zhivkov and the businessmen Bobokovi brothers on May 28 were detained for 24 hours.

The specialised prosecutor's office is investigating alleged involvement in an organized crime group that has mismanaged waste, including hazardous materials. The former head of the environment inspection in Pleven was also alleged to have taken part in the scheme.

At the beginning of the year, a large amount of unseparated waste imported from Italy was found in Pleven.

A total of six people have been detained so far. The prosecutor's office announced that it is yet to be decided who will be charged and what charges will be brought.

The prosecutor's office is pursuing two lines of inquiry related to mismanagement of waste. One is for illegal import of waste from Italy, which is not separated, which makes it not waste but garbage. The waste was imported by companies that do not have the necessary capacity to process or incinerate it, something that is not allowed.

According to the evidence gathered by the prosecutor's office, it was Krassimir Zhivkov who pressured his subordinates, mostly heads of regional environment inspectorates to give permits to companies that did not meet the requirements to import such waste. Those who did not give permits, according to the prosecution, were fired.

The second line of investigation is into criminal mismanagement of hazardous waste, in which Bobokovi brothers were allegedly involved. They own a battery processing plant in Montana and a company that produces motor oils. All facilities where hazardous waste can be recovered, but this did not happen, or if it did, it was fictitious.

The operation against the alleged group began at 06.00 am in the morning of May...