Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Demerdzhiev presented awards to distinguished Ministry of Interior employees in the Granite Hall of the Council of Ministers. The honors were awarded for contributions to combating drug trafficking and narcotics production, as well as for successfully conducted anti-corruption operations.
"It is an honor to recognize outstanding Ministry of Interior employees who, through their professionalism and dedication, strengthen the rule of law and restore citizens' faith in the state," the Prime Minister emphasized in his speech.
Among the distinguished recipients were investigators and intelligence officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOB). They were honored for intercepting corrupt practices within the Burgas Water and Sewerage (ViK) utility, as well as for neutralizing a production and distribution chain for fentanyl and other high-risk narcotics in the cities of Sofia, Ruse, and Pernik. Similar awards were presented to GDCOB employees for intercepting a drug trafficking channel in the Yambol region and for an operation targeting maritime drug trafficking through the village of Rezovo toward Turkey.
Employees of the General Directorate "Border Police" were recognized for a specialized operation at the beginning of the month, during which a large quantity of high-risk narcotics was discovered and seized inside a military vehicle.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev also expressed his gratitude to the police officers, highlighting the ministry's strategic priorities: combating drug distribution and uncovering corrupt deals. "You know what is expected of us, and I am confident that we will continue to fulfill our tasks," he told the awardees.
The event concluded with a group photograph featuring the Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, and the distinguished employees.