Bulgaria's Customs Conduct Overnight Lukoil Probe

The Lukoil Neftochim refinery in Burgas is the only one in the country. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Customs Agency has conducted a probe in the tax warehouses of fuel retailer Lukoil Bulgaria until the wee hours Thursday.

The results are to be announced later in the day. The probe aimed at establishing if there are any breaches and tempering with the fuel measuring electronic meters.

It was also reported that representatives of an unnamed international organization have been present to secure independent monitoring of the probe.

On Monday, Bulgaria's Customs Agency decided to suspend once again Lukoil's license over violations in measuring the fuel and in reporting the volumes to the National Revenue Agency, NRA.

Lukoil labeled the move "unfounded administrative abuse."

Only one day after the suspension, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the order of Customs Head, Vanyo Tanov, prompting the Agency's PR office to issue the following statement:

"On this night, the court missed the chance to dispel doubts plaguing Bulgarian society that our country is ruled by an oligarchy."