36 Arrested Overnight in Shock Schengen Raid in Bulgaria

The arrests were made in Bulgaria’s bigger cities such as the capital Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Blagoevgrad. File photo by BGNES

Bulgarian commandos have made thirty-six arrests overnight during a special police operation, code-named "Shock", on the territory of the whole country, police announced Wednesday morning.

"The operation was conducted jointly with our Euro-Atlantic partners. It was ordered by the Interior Ministry Chief Secretary and targets persons and vehicles wanted under the Schengen Information System," Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov explained.

The operation continued on Wednesday morning.

The center-right government elected n the summer of 2009 has vowed to take a harder line on crime and graft than its predecessor.

Over the last two years Bulgarian police arrested dozens of members of powerful crime gangs suspected of money laundering, racketeering, drug trafficking, bribery and tax frauds.

The raids have been part of the efforts of the government to shake off the country's reputation for rampant graft and crime.

People allegedly involved in high-level crime and corruption however have remained untouchable.

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