Customs authorities in the Bulgarian port of Burgas recently discovered nearly 1,000 pounds of heroin hidden in a trailer that arrived from the Georgian port of Batumi in late July. The cargo had traveled overland from Kyrgyzstan to Batumi before being transported across the Black Sea.
This incident underscores the challenge of illicit trade using the same routes as legitimate trade, with substantial profits at stake. The seized heroin in Bulgaria is valued at around $38 million.
Law enforcement in Bulgaria launched an investigation after finding 436 kilograms of heroin concealed in cable-laying machines within a shipment declared as such. The drugs were discovered in hidden cavities during a physical inspection prompted by suspicions raised by the shipment’s prolonged stay in the port.
The cargo was reportedly en route from Kyrgyzstan to Greece via Bulgaria, with the exact path from Kyrgyzstan to Georgia likely passing through Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Authorities have yet to make any arrests or identify suspects involved in this cross-border crime.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kyrgyzstan denied claims that the seized heroin originated in their country and is collaborating with Bulgarian authorities on the investigation.
Dr. Louise Shelley’s research suggests that modern drug trade follows historical trade routes like the Silk Road, posing risks amidst opportunities presented by new transport links in Central Asia.
The expansion of trade networks in Central Asia, including the Middle Corridor route, brings both benefits and challenges such as dealing with illicit activities, particularly the drug trade shadowing legitimate commerce in the region.
Afghanistan’s significant role in global opiate supply raises concerns about drug trafficking through Central Asia, which is exacerbated by the development of new trade routes in the region.
Efforts to combat drug trafficking in Central Asia have faced obstacles in curbing global drug supplies while unintentionally bolstering authoritarianism in the region. Reported drug busts represent only a fraction of the larger illicit trade problem.