Today I handed over the leadership of the Ministry of Interior to the acting Minister Emil Dechev.
I wish him success. The good must be built on, and institutional continuity - preserved.
The security of citizens remains the most important priority.
This was published on his Facebook page by Daniel Mitov, after handing over the post to the acting Minister of Interior Emil Dechev.
Then, again with a post on Facebook, Mitov took stock of his work as Minister of Interior:
It was an extremely responsible task for me to lead the Ministry of Interior over the last year - a period marked by serious challenges and measurable results. I believe that the work of the institution should be evaluated through actions and achievements, and not through political suggestions.
I am aware that one year is not enough to solve all the accumulated problems. But I am convinced that we have set a clear direction - more coordination, more active interaction with partner services and greater resilience of the institution.
This year, we have significantly strengthened the fight against drug trafficking and drug distribution. The seized quantities of cocaine are many times greater than in previous years, we have reported a serious increase in cannabis, and the counteraction to fentanyl has become a clear priority - from single cases to dozens of times larger established quantities and hundreds of uncovered cases. This is the result of more specialized operations, better coordination and active partnership with the US and UK services.
In the field of countering smuggling, one of the largest high-tech illegal cigarette factories was discovered and dismantled, with over 105 million pieces in one operation. The total amount of excise goods seized increased significantly.
At the border, we invested in modern technological solutions - radar systems, video surveillance and anti-drone protection, as well as in increasing human resources. The result is a significantly reduced migration pressure and more effective control of the external border.
I express my gratitude to all Bulgarian and international partner services with whom we have built relationships of trust and professional cooperation. Joint actions and the exchange of information were key to the results achieved.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is not an institution of one party. It is a pillar of statehood. Thank you to all employees - police officers, border guards, firefighters, investigative bodies, experts and administrative staff. What has been achieved is the result of your work and dedication.