Notorious Smuggler Threatens Bulgarian PM - Report

So far, there have been three alleged assassination plots against Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov. Photo by BGNES

A notorious smuggler, key figure in Bulgaria's underworld, has ordered the murder of Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, according to the daily "Standard."

The report comes on the heels of a Monday publication in another newspaper - "24 Chassa" (24 Hours).

According to "24 Chassa," about 10 days ago, Bulgarian intelligence have intercepted phone calls and meetings of some key personalities and discovered the latest plan to murder Borisov for the price of EUR 400,000.

The sum of EUR 400,000 is too little for my life, Borisov joked Monday, confirming the information about an assassination plot against him.

"Standard" cites an unnamed high-ranking intelligence employee saying the smuggler had made only one phone call to a criminal group dealing with murders for hire.

The phone call has been placed on Bulgarian territory with a SIM card which was later discarded. In addition to contraband, the man, who is threatening Borisov, is also dealing with racket, prostitution, and illegal drug trade.

Bulgarian secret services, however, deny the person in question is controversial businessman and former employee of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), Aleksei Petrov, who was arrested in February on a number of similar charges and recently released under house arrest.

Meanwhile "24 Chassa" writes Tuesday that despite earlier alleged plots against Borisov, dating from the time he was Chief Secretary of the Interior, this one is the first very serious threat involving interception of at least two participants with one of them being a long-time "acquaintance" of the police.

Intelligence experts, however, note the order might be coming from a totally different source and the intercepted phone calls could be an attempt to divert attention.

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