Lesovo, Bulgaria – May 4, 2025 — Customs authorities at the Lesovo Border Checkpoint have intercepted a significant sum of undeclared foreign currency hidden beneath the mattress in a truck driver’s cabin, in what officials are describing as a serious attempt to bypass financial disclosure regulations.
The incident occurred on April 30, 2025, when a freight truck bearing foreign registration arrived at the Lesovo Customs Point on its outbound route to Turkey. According to the Bulgarian Customs Agency, the vehicle was transporting goods from the Netherlands to Turkey, as stated in the documentation provided by the driver.
The driver, a Turkish citizen identified by the initials A.K., reportedly declared that he had no other items or assets to declare during the routine inspection process. However, customs inspectors, acting on standard inspection protocols and possibly alert to suspicious behavior, conducted a thorough search of the truck’s cabin area.
Upon examining the sleeping compartment of the vehicle, inspectors discovered ten bundles of euro banknotes hidden under the mattress of the upper bunk bed.
The currency—comprised of various denominations of euro notes and tightly wrapped with rubber bands—amounted to a total of €61,300. Based on current exchange rates, the Bulgarian Customs Agency confirmed the leva equivalent to be approximately 119,892 BGN.
The entire sum was undeclared, in violation of national and EU customs regulations that require individuals to declare amounts equivalent to or exceeding €10,000 when crossing borders.
The undeclared money was immediately seized by customs authorities, and an official act of administrative violation was drawn up against the driver. Administrative criminal proceedings have since been initiated, and the case is currently under investigation to determine whether the incident is part of a larger pattern of cross-border currency smuggling.
“This interception is another strong example of the professionalism and vigilance of our customs officers at border checkpoints,” a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Customs Agency said in a press release. “Such attempts to circumvent financial transparency regulations undermine economic security and will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
The driver, whose identity beyond initials A.K. has not been disclosed, may face substantial penalties, including fines and potential restrictions on future travel through the European Union.
The Lesovo Customs Point, one of the key land crossings between Bulgaria and Turkey, has seen an increase in attempts to smuggle undeclared currency and contraband in recent years. Bulgarian authorities have since bolstered security measures, including enhanced vehicle inspections and the use of advanced scanning equipment.
The Customs Agency reiterated its reminder to travelers and commercial drivers that all currency exceeding the €10,000 threshold must be formally declared to customs officers when entering or leaving the European Union.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the funds and whether additional individuals or organizations may be involved in the attempted smuggling operation.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members