1224 packages, of which 902 packages of botulinum toxin and 332 boxes of unauthorized pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, were detained in less than a month by customs officers from Sofia Customs during inspections of various shipments with recipients individuals.
The products, some of which were cosmetic products and others were medications, were detained in 15 different parcel shipments in the period from May 14 to July 7, 2025 as a result of inspections carried out by employees of the specialized customs offices within the structure of Sofia Customs. Most of the products are contraband, as they were not described in the accompanying documents, and in the remaining cases it was found that the description was incomplete or misleading both in terms of the type of goods and their quantity.
For example, “4 pcs. serums for external application in cosmetic procedures“, declared on May 14, turned out to be 12 boxes of 10 ampoules or a total of 120 ampoules of pharmaceuticals for intravenous infusion of five different brands. In the case, the Bulgarian Medicines Agency (BMA) issued an opinion that the products are not authorized for use in the Republic of Bulgaria. During another inspection, customs officers seized 30 pieces of medication for intravenous infusion. They were found during an inspection of a shipment with declared contents: “serums for beauty procedures“.
In eight parcels from Vietnam with contents described as “clothes, shoes, cosmetics and perfumes“, 600 packages of botulinum toxin type A – 100 units, and 80 plastic boxes with a cream containing lidocaine 29.9% were found. Another 300 boxes of botulinum toxin type A – 100 units, and 2 pieces of botulinum toxin type A – 200 units were declared as “30 glass bottles and 30 sample boxes“.
For a shipment declared as 47 pieces of “Beauty Collagen Gel“ originating in Korea, was found to contain 13 packages of lidocaine, banned for sale in the European Union, 11 fillers mixed with lidocaine, and a total of 34 packages of 3 different brands of botulinum toxin, which is approved for sale in our country, but only against a doctor's prescription. For some of the products, it was found that they should be transported and stored at a temperature regime, which was not noted in the documents and, accordingly, was not observed during transportation.
A total of 45 boxes, again with medical products in the form of injections and tablets, were detained during an inspection of a postal shipment on July 7, 2025. Of these, 15 boxes contained alpha-lipoic acid, another 3 boxes - human placenta hydrolysate (used for cell regeneration, smoothing wrinkles, etc.) and 26 boxes contained vitamins and antioxidants intended to slow down aging. All medical products are of unknown origin.
The Bulgarian Medicines Agency has been notified of the cases, the products have been seized and administrative criminal proceedings under the Customs Act are underway for the individual inspections.