SANS checks Bulgarian bank for money transfers from Venezuela

The State Agency for National Security checks a Bulgarian bank for money transfers received from Venezuela. The alert was received in Bulgaria by the US services.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met with US Ambassador Eric Rubin and the heads of the Special Service and the Prosecutor's Office to talk on the issue.

The Bulgarian Financial Intelligence has established the person receiving the money as well as the bank accounts. Once the entire money transfer channel has been clarified, criminal proceedings for money laundering will be initiated, the Chief Prosecutor explained.

Sotir Tsatsarov, Chief Prosecutor: The bank was established, the person who was used as the holder of these accounts was established, and the accounts themselves. Tranfers have actually been made by Venezuela's State Petroleum Company to these accounts, after which other tranfers have been made, as a result of which some of the funds have been exported from these banks and transferred to bank accounts in other countries. The reasons were different and, in most cases, under our suspicion and in view of the work we are currently doing, were not real. Such reasons are related to the support and funding of a Venezuelan sports federation, for purchase of food for Venezuela, etc., which in general are unrelated to reality.

Dimitar Dimitrov, President of SANS: The person found as the account holder lives in different countries and is not currently on the territory of Bulgaria. SANS conducts inspections at the bank that has been identified in view of establishing all the facts about the transfers relating to the accounts that were mentioned.

H.E. Eric Rubin, US Ambassador to Bulgaria: Our government together with the other EU countries works very closely to ensure that the wealth of the people of Venezuela is not stolen and that it has the necessary support for peaceful and democratic future.