The notorious drug lord Hristoforos Nicos “Taki” Amanatidis and the brother of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rositsa Kirova, Konstantin Lyubenov Varbanov, are being investigated abroad in a case of money laundering and terrorism financing, BIRD.BG learned within the framework of a large cross-border investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

Reporters from the ICIJ reviewed the content of court documents in which the names of the two Bulgarians are present.

Copies of their passports in PDF format were found in the seized computer of the main suspect.

Amanatidis and the brother of Rositsa Kirova, who was a two-term Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (Parliament) from the formerly ruling party of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), and is now a GERB MP, traveled together to the country where the investigation is being conducted, it is also written in the documents in the case.

A large number of heavy automatic weapons and 40,000 rounds of ammunition were found in the suspects’ home.

BIRD was able to identify the serial number of one of the weapons, which was manufactured in Bulgaria at the Arsenal plant.

Rositsa Kirova and her brother have a common business in the company Danube Dredging Fleet – Vidin.

Kirova was also a partner with Kosovo drug lord Ismet Osmani, a BIRD.BG investigation revealed . Despite this fact, she was nominated by GERB as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

After the release of this information about Kirova and Osmani, the Ministry of Interior responded to a parliamentary question that there was no evidence of criminal activity in Bulgaria of Ismet Osmani, against whom a criminal case is pending in Kosovo.

Hristoforos Nicos “Taki” Amanatidis has been investigated and wanted by Interpol by the Bulgarian authorities for leading an armed criminal group for the distribution of drugs and robberies but fled to Dubai.

In 2012, the United Arab Emirates authorities refused to extradite him. The case against Amanatidis was subsequently dropped due to lack of evidence, and his wanted notice disappeared from the international police organization’s website.

So far, it is not clear whether the Bulgarian law enforcement authorities are aware of the investigation abroad into Amanatidis and the brother of the former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rositsa Kirova.

We remind that persons related to Taki, including his lawyer, were also identified in the investigation into the “Golden Lab” at the Captain Andreevo border crossing point with Turkey. It emerged that food not checked for harmful substances was entering Europe through this checkpoint and this laboratory.

Evidence of a terrorism investigation involving a Bulgarian drug lord, a relative of a top politician and Bulgarian weapons is particularly worrying amid European Union countries’ concerns about Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen space of free movement.

BIRD continues to work on the case, together with colleagues from the ICIJ.

Ако считате, че този безплатен ресурс е полезен, включете се с малка сума за неговата поддръжка. При възможност, станете наш редовен спомоществовател с опцията Месечно дарение. Това ни помага да предвиждаме бъдещи разходи и да планираме дейността си за месеци напред.

***

За да научавате преди всички за нови разследвания, инсталирайте си нашето мобилно приложение: