Today, the U.S. Department of Justice held a roundtable discussion with Bulgarian partner institutions on topics related to investigative and prosecution techniques for transnational organized crime, with a focus on future cooperation. The consultative session was attended by representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Bulgaria, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, the National Investigation Service, the Directorate General for Combating Organized Crime at the Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Charges d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Sofia H. Martin McDowell noted: “Organized crime harms innocent citizens in both our countries. By working with Bulgarian law enforcement, we are strengthening our collective ability to detect, disrupt, and disrupt criminal networks that threaten our societies. This collaboration strengthens security in both our countries and sends a clear message that transnational crime has no safe haven here.“
The Office of Prosecutors Overseas Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) of the U.S. Department of Justice hosted the event, which focused on methods for investigating and disrupting transnational criminal organizations, best practices for uncovering money laundering schemes, and ways to work with border agencies to identify contraband.
Over the past year, U.S.-Bulgarian law enforcement and border security cooperation has expanded significantly. Improved information sharing has played a key role in reducing illegal border crossings into Bulgaria and identifying known and suspected terrorists, while joint investigations have disrupted labor trafficking schemes, preventing unauthorized migration to Bulgaria, the United States, and other parts of the world.