Bulgaria and Turkey will step up cooperation against cross-border organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration and what Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci described as “new generation” criminal activity. The issue was discussed during Ciftci’s meeting with Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev in Bulgaria, with both sides also agreeing to strengthen cooperation on the recovery of assets linked to crime and corruption.
Ciftci described Bulgaria as a friendly neighbor and NATO ally, stressing that the two countries share the same region and face common security challenges. He said closer cooperation was particularly important as criminal groups increasingly operate across borders.
The Turkish minister warned that some of the new criminal structures are taking on characteristics associated with terrorist organizations. “It is of particular importance that we cooperate so that both countries can successfully fight new generation crimes,” Ciftci said.
The talks covered organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and cybercrime, as well as security along the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Ciftci said Ankara placed particular importance on the support provided by Bulgaria in efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.
