A Romanian citizen has been charged with smuggling gold jewellery and undeclared gold coins found at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing, the district prosecutor's office in Haskovo said.

He was ordered to pay €5,000 bail and banned from leaving the country.

According to the charge, on 9 October he brought gold items, including 13 gold coins, from Turkey into Bulgaria in a Romanian-registered car, without the knowledge or permission of customs officers. The car was travelling from Turkey through Bulgaria to Romania.

The press office of the Customs Agency said officers at its Svilengrad unit checked the car thoroughly. In the customs control zone, the driver and his passenger, both Romanian citizens, said they had nothing to declare.

A risk analysis check flagged the car for a search. Under the lining of the boot, officers found clear plastic bags holding gold items, rings and medallions with diamonds, as well as the coins.

An expert examined the 13 coins. They weigh 181.20 grams in total, are 986 fineness (23.65 carats) and are worth €21,464.95. The other gold items, including the rings and medallions with diamonds, weigh 732.60 grams in total and are worth €83,516.76.

The gold was found to belong to the passenger in the car. The jewellery, the coins and the vehicle were seized.