Bulgarian Border Police Racketeers Released on Bail

The 14 detained Bulgarian border police officers have been racketeering foreign travelers at the Danube Bridge. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian border police officers working at the Danube Bridge to Romania, who were detained on Thursday for racketeering foreigners, have been released on bail, insiders said.

The prosecutor's office has not issued a statement yet.

The fourteen police officers have been released on bail of BGN 3000 each and the prosecutor's office has refused to seek their permanent detention, the lawyers said.

New charges have not been raised.

The Bulgarian border police officers have been racketeering foreigners, mostly transit travelers outside the EU, according to the allegation.

Some of the border police officers were taking the requested amount in USD and even gave back change if the bill had a higher denomination, reports say.

Other officers accepted only EUR and if foreigners had another currency, they were compelled to exchange it in the nearby exchange bureau in EUR.

A third option was implemented when the travelers refused to give bribes. Then, the border police officers searched their vehicles and took cigarettes, alcohol or other products.

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