Bulgaria Abduction Cases Doubled in 2009, Businessmen Harassed

Crime | November 9, 2009, Monday // 15:47|  views

A total of 15 kidnapping case have been solved so far by the Bulgarian Police. Photo by BGNES

The number of kidnappings in Bulgaria has doubled in 2009 compared to 2008, according to Commissar Angel Antonov, head of the Criminal Police Directorate.

Antonov says in an interview for the 24 Chasa daily that in January-October 2009 the anti-mafia units investigated a total of 23 abductions, and at least 7 of those were for ransom. In 2008, a total of 10 kidnappings were registered.

According to Interior Ministry data cited by Antonov, a criminal gang makes about EUR 600 000 on average per abduction. A total of 15 kidnapping case have been solved so far by the Bulgarian Police.

“Almost every day we get complaints from businessmen from around the country that they are being blackmailed for large sums of money with the threat that a member of their family will be kidnapped,” Antonov has stated.

Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov has recently insisted on the adopting of a special anti-kidnapping law. The Parliament has proceeded with amendments to criminal legislation envisaging a life sentence for violent kidnappings.

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Tags: abductions, kidnapping, Angel Antonov, Commissar, Criminal Police

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