The Golden Puddle. Kneel-Deep into the Gaping Hole at the Border
The Swiss edition “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” published an extensive report on the long-running scheme of privatizing the border control at “Kapitan Andreevo.” The report focuses on the consequences for food safety and also cites ACF reports to institutions:
“On average, Interpred Eurologistic’s control checks lasted only 6 minutes – far too short of doing all the sampling the private company claims to have done. There are indications that controls on pesticide content in food were inadequately carried out. As a result, food with unacceptable concentrations of harmful substances has been reaching EU countries and Switzerland for years.”
“For the entire year 2021, only 6 tons of food was stopped because of high levels of pesticides,” the publication added. “In July 2022, when the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency took control, 22 tons were stopped in just one day. Privatizing border control has also meant the state cannot curb illegal drug and human trafficking.”
Neue Zürcher Zeitung also quotes the ACF in connection with the so-called “Golden Tümpel” or “Golden Puddle” at the border:
“Already in 2019, the NGO Anti-Corruption Fund sent signals to the Prosecutor’s Office about illegal activities at “Kapitan Andreevo.” However, the reports remain without consequences.”
See the full story in German here