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Tag: Bulgaria

  • Bulgaria Raises Tobacco Excise Taxes

    Bulgaria Raises Tobacco Excise Taxes

    Bulgaria increased excise duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products as its 2026 State Budget took effect Aug. 1. The cigarette excise rate rose from €113.51 to €120 per 1,000 cigarettes, increasing the pre-VAT price of a pack by about €0.13. The government has also scheduled further increases to €126 per 1,000 cigarettes on March 1, 2027, and €132 per 1,000 cigarettes on Jan. 1, 2028. Excise duties on smoking tobacco increased from €121.69 to €130 per kg, while the rate on heated tobacco products rose from €214 to €225 per kg.

    According to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance, the accelerated excise increases are intended to boost government revenue and align with ongoing European Union discussions on higher minimum tobacco tax rates. The ministry estimates the higher excise duties and related VAT collections will generate an additional €155.9 million in revenue during 2026.

  • Bulgarian Tobacco Farmers Urge EC to Consider Rural Impact of Regs

    Bulgarian Tobacco Farmers Urge EC to Consider Rural Impact of Regs

    More than 8,300 tobacco growers in Bulgaria urged the European Commission to assess the economic and social impact of planned revisions to the EU Tobacco Products Directive, warning that new regulations should not harm rural communities or fuel illicit trade. In a video submission to the Commission’s public consultation, growers said decisions made in Brussels could have significant consequences for tobacco-dependent regions across Bulgaria and the EU.

    The appeal comes as the EU prepares a major overhaul of tobacco and nicotine product regulations, with producers calling for detailed impact assessments on farming, employment, local economies, and the wider tobacco value chain before legislative proposals are finalized later this year.

  • Bulgaria Stops Greece/Romania Illicit Cigarette Pipeline

    Bulgaria Stops Greece/Romania Illicit Cigarette Pipeline

    Officers from Bulgaria’s General Directorate Combating Organized Crime intercepted a cigarette smuggling operation moving illicit products from Greece to Romania through Bulgaria, detaining two suspects near Pernik, Deputy Director Darin Kostov said Friday. Authorities stopped a passenger car and a truck at a gas station, where they discovered 300 boxes of smuggled cigarettes. The case forms part of Interior Ministry enforcement priorities, with cross-border information sharing underway as a formal investigation begins.

  • Major Illegal Cigarette Factory Busted in Bulgaria

    Major Illegal Cigarette Factory Busted in Bulgaria

    Bulgarian authorities dismantled one of the country’s largest illegal cigarette factories in a joint operation by the General Directorate Border Police and the District Prosecutor’s Office – Kyustendil, detaining two men on charges linked to large-scale illicit tobacco production. The April 2 raid at a warehouse in Dupnitsa uncovered over 11 tons of shredded tobacco and 651 master boxes of cigarettes destined for Central and Western Europe. Another 180 master boxes and a truck tied to the network were found in Krivina.

    Officials said the site housed advanced production and packaging lines, living quarters, and surveillance systems, operating in strict secrecy. Prosecutors will seek pretrial detention as investigations continue to identify other members of the network.

  • EU Approves Bulgaria’s Vape Ban

    EU Approves Bulgaria’s Vape Ban

    The European Commission approved Bulgaria’s legislation banning the marketing, sale, and distribution of disposable e-cigarettes, triggering a three-month phase-out period for existing products on the market. The decision, issued under the EU Tobacco Products Directive framework, concludes that the measure is justified, necessary, and proportionate to protect public health, particularly in response to rising youth vaping rates. Bulgarian authorities cited data showing that one in four students aged 13–15 use vapes, alongside concerns over youth-targeted product design, nicotine-related health risks, and environmental harm from disposable devices.

    With the approval in place, Bulgaria will proceed with implementation, requiring retailers to clear inventory within the transition period or remove products from sale, with the option to export remaining stock. The move follows similar actions by other EU countries and reflects growing regional momentum toward stricter regulation of disposable e-cigarettes as policymakers seek to curb underage use and limit nicotine addiction among younger populations.

  • Bulgarians Seize 6M Cigarettes in Produce Truck

    Bulgarians Seize 6M Cigarettes in Produce Truck

    Bulgarian customs authorities seized more than 6.1 million smuggled cigarettes hidden in a refrigerated truck carrying citrus and vegetables from Greece to Poland. The shipment, consisting of three popular brands without Bulgarian excise stamps, had a market value of about €1.15 million, with unpaid excise duties totaling €691,560. The Ukrainian driver was arrested, and an investigation is ongoing.

  • Bulgaria Busts Nation’s Largest Illegal Cigarette Factory

    Bulgaria Busts Nation’s Largest Illegal Cigarette Factory

    Bulgarian authorities, working with U.K. partners, dismantled what prosecutors describe as the country’s largest illegal cigarette manufacturing facility, located near Batanovtsi, about 37 km west of Sofia. Officials seized cigarettes, approximately 13.8 tons of tobacco, and a truck carrying more than 10 million cigarettes, with unpaid excise duties estimated to exceed €2.8 million. The site featured a fully integrated production operation, including tobacco processing, cigarette manufacturing, packaging equipment, storage areas, and living quarters for around 20 foreign workers. Authorities said the factory had been operating for less than three weeks and was primarily producing cigarettes for export, with investigations ongoing and several individuals identified in connection with the operation.

  • Bulgarian Police Seize 400 Kg of Illicit Hookah Tobacco

    Bulgarian Police Seize 400 Kg of Illicit Hookah Tobacco

    Bulgarian police arrested two men in Sofia for possessing more than 400 kg of untaxed hookah tobacco worth more than BGN 100,000 ($60,000), officials said. The suspects, identified as two brothers in their 50s, were detained following a police operation after officers found untaxed tobacco in their vehicle and later uncovered the large cache in a nearby building. Authorities said the tobacco was intended for nationwide commercial distribution and had been sold through direct deliveries and courier services for nearly a year. A third individual suspected of involvement was also detained, and pre-trial proceedings are underway.

  • Serbian Man Charged in Bulgaria for Smuggling Shisha Tobacco

    Serbian Man Charged in Bulgaria for Smuggling Shisha Tobacco

    Bulgarian prosecutors charged a 35-year-old Serbian man with smuggling 302.4 kg of shisha tobacco across the Kalotina border crossing. Customs officials said the driver declared the load as separators bound for Türkiye, but an X-ray inspection uncovered 62 boxes of undeclared tobacco hidden in the truck. The driver is being held for 72 hours while prosecutors seek his remand in custody.

  • Bulgarian Police Seize $18M in Illegal Cigarettes at Factory Bust

    Bulgarian Police Seize $18M in Illegal Cigarettes at Factory Bust

    Bulgarian authorities dismantled the largest illegal cigarette factory ever discovered in the country, the Prosecutor’s Office announced today (July 10). According to an official statement, the clandestine facility was located beneath a cow farm near the village of Momkovo in the Haskovo region of southeastern Bulgaria. Authorities uncovered approximately 102.7 million cigarettes of various brands at the site.

    “The value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at over 30 million BGN ($18 million),” the statement said.

    In addition to the massive quantity of cigarettes, law enforcement also confiscated machinery and equipment used in their production. Two suspects have been detained so far, one of whom is the owner of the cow farm. Authorities are currently investigating the involvement of other individuals.