Bulgarian mafia
The Bulgarian mafia is an informal term to describe any number of organized crime groups originating from Bulgaria.
Activities
Bulgarian OC groups are involved in a wide range of activities, including drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, human trafficking, prostitution, extortion and the arms trade. They appear to have connections with the Russian Mafiya, Serbian Mafia and the Italian Cosa Nostra.
Notable figures
- Andrey Lukanov-politician - According to books by the authors Hristo Kalchev,Georgi Stoev and Grigor Lilov as well as reports from many Bulgarian journalists he was alleged to be the most influential figure in the Bulgarian underworld.
- General Lyuben Gocev- Allegedly connected with SIC
- Mladen "Madzho" Mihalev - boss of SIC
- Vasil Iliev - boss of VIS
- Georgi Iliev - boss of VIS
- Krasimir "Big Margin" Marinov - boss of SIC
- Nikolay "Small Margin" Marinov- boss of SIC
- Ivan "The Doctor" Todorov - drug smuggler and billionare
- Konstantin "Samokovetsa" Dimitrov - drug and cigarette smuggler billionare.
- Vasil "The Skull" Bozhkov - Billionaire and gambling mogul. While there is no evidence for criminal activities, but he was well known with mob bosses and is suspected of calling upon their services.
- Emil Kyulev- banker connected with SIC
- Iliya Pavlov- billionare - there is no evidence for criminal activities but former employees claim of his involvement in a prostitution ring.
- Ivo "The Godfather" Karamanski
SIC
Bulgarian crime group.Created in 1993 with a front of legal activities as insuring and guarding.It is involved in drug trafficking,prostitution,extortion,people trafficking.It's bosses are Mladen "Madzho" Mihalev,Krasimir "Big Margin" Marinov,Nikolay "Small Margin" Marinov,Rumen "Pashata" Nikolov,Dmitry "The Russian" Minev.According to Georgi Stoev's book "SIC" it's actual boss was general Lyuben Gocev who gave orders to Mladen Mihalev.Now the most of the bosses are dead.Nikolay and Krasimir Marinov are in prison.According to the bulgarian newspaper "Weekend" Mladen Mihalev who is still alive has a networth of $500 000 000.
VIS
Vasil Iliev Security, or VIS, is a security and insurance company in Bulgaria thought to be a front for a criminal organization dealing in extortion, car theft, drug trafficking and more. Set up in the early 1990's by Vasil Illiev. The company was declared illegal in 1994 but continued operating under the new name of VIS-2. [1]
Vasil Iliev was assassinated on April 25, 1995. The new boss of the company became his brother Georgi Iliev, who was himself assassinated on August 26, 2005. The company is now led by Rumen "Wolf" Gaitanski.
External links
- "Bulgarian football boss shot dead". BBC News. August 26, 2005.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Bulgaria's Football Elite Flock to Iliev's Memorial Service". Sofia News Agency (as syndicated by the British Helsinki Human Rights Group). August 28, 2005.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - The Polish Magazine Wprost's list of top 100 of the richest men in Eastern Europe
- Bulgarian tycoon gunned down.BBC News
- Bulgarian mafia boss shot dead.BBC News
- Bulgarian sex slave gang smashed
- BBC News investigation reveals Bulgarian child trafficking ring
- Tight Security, Melee as Bulgarian Gangster Boss Turns up in Court
- Drug Market In Bulgaria