The General Directorate “National Police“ carried out searches and seizures as part of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office into alleged subsidy fraud involving EU agricultural funds.
The investigation concerns the alleged submission of false or misleading information in applications for financial support under various EU schemes intended for agricultural producers between 2023 and 2025. According to the evidence, a beneficiary company submitted false data to the Municipal Agricultural Service in Burgas, with the alleged participation of high-ranking public officials responsible for certifying information in the systems of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The searches were carried out in the premises of the Regional Agricultural Service, the office of the beneficiary company and the home of a high-ranking public official. Documents, digital data and mobile phones were seized.
According to the investigation, an illegal acquisition of EU agricultural funds was carried out, causing financial losses to both the bloc and the national budget. The exact damage is still being established. Preliminary estimates indicate losses of several hundred thousand euros per year.
The investigation is also examining evidence of an organised crime group involving public officials and those linked to the beneficiary.