Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Interpol red list drug lord Brendo hiding in Bulgaria since 2022

Kalin Stoyanov announces the news from the parliamentary rostrum, 28 June 2024.
Photo: BTA

Infamous drug kingpin Brendo, on Interpol's red list since 2018, has been hiding in Bulgaria for two years. This was announced in Parliament by caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov. 

Evelin (Brendo) Banev, who turned himself in at Sofia Central Prison on Monday, entered Bulgaria in the spring of 2022. The fugitive returned to Bulgaria in a small plane that flew over several European countries, refuelling at an airport near Vidin and landing in the Targovishte region. 

He is wanted by Interpol for serving a final sentence of six years' imprisonment in Bulgaria for money laundering and drug trafficking, handed down in 2018. Brendo also has a final sentence of 10 years' imprisonment in Romania and a 20-year sentence in Italy. Brendo landed in Bulgaria when Boyko Rashkov was interior minister, said Stoyanov, who was then director of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Delyan Peevski

''DPS – New Beginning'' urges that local taxes remain unchanged in 2026

“I call on all representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in local government — mayors and municipal councilors — to ensure security and predictability for the people and to take the necessary steps to keep all local taxes and fees..

published on 11/25/25 10:02 AM

Bulgaria rises in global digital quality of life ranking

Bulgaria has climbed to 11th place in this year’s Digital Quality of Life 2025 (DQL) index published by Surfshark, up from 18th last year, BTA reported. The index evaluates countries’ digital well-being across five dimensions: fixed broadband..

published on 11/25/25 9:45 AM
Todor Chobanov

Bulgaria expects the return of over 2,700 antiques from abroad

Around 90% of the antiques seized during an international operation targeting a cultural property trafficking network will be returned to Bulgaria, Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov told “Nova TV”.   “This is an unprecedented operation in..

published on 11/25/25 9:22 AM