Former acting Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated that Nikola Nikolov-Pascal made a deal to return to Bulgaria, and that Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski are most likely behind this. In an interview with BTV, Demerdzhiev indicated that Pascal was involved in cigarette smuggling for huge sums.
"Let us hear his testimony, and then we will comment on it", said Demerdzhiev, quoted by BGNES.
The former minister revealed that during his mandate he established Pascal's criminal activity: "At the time when I was Interior Minister, it was clear that Pascal was leading smuggling for millions of leva. I cut it off by transferring an employee to another position in the customs.
According to Demerdzhiev, Pascal has operated unhindered for many years: "Pascal has worked since the transition and has led smuggling absolutely undisturbed". He added that there is data on the scale of the illegal activity: "There is data that for 2015 alone, the cigarette smuggling carried out by Nikola Nikolov - Pascal, was worth over 130 million leva".
"It is not possible to maintain such a huge smuggling channel without the participation of the state," emphasized the former acting interior minister.
Demerdzhiev believes that Nikolov's nickname speaks for itself: "The fact that they call him the 'King of Smuggling' is enough". In conclusion, the former minister categorically stated: "I believe that Pascal made a deal with Borisov and Peevski, since only the two of them lead the state".