A record amount of fentanyl, ready for distribution, was seized in two operations carried out by the Main Directorate for Combatting Organised Crime (GDBOP) in Targovishte and Montana within a week, according to reporter Silvia Velikova.

Previous seizures had ranged from a few grams to a few tens of grams, but this time over two kilograms were confiscated, said Deputy Chief Prosecutor Vanya Stefanova and GDBOP Director Chief Commissioner Boyan Raev at a joint press conference.

"We are seeing fentanyl appear on the drug market in Bulgaria. The person arrested in the ongoing investigation is above average in terms of their level of involvement. We are working on this issue together with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and drawing on their experience,” commented Raev.

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid which is often involved in drug overdoses due to its strength and growing presence on illicit markets.