Coordinated operation targets online crime and narcotics in schools

To coincide with the start of the new school year on 15 September, Bulgaria’s prosecutor’s office and Ministry of the Interior have launched a nationwide operation targeting drug trafficking near schools, shopping centres, nightclubs and other places frequented by teenagers, according to BGNES.

The operation seeks both to identify and arrest individuals involved in drug distribution and to ensure that criminal proceedings are fast-tracked.

Additional measures focus on protecting children in cyberspace. These include monitoring social networks, websites, forums and encrypted chat channels to identify and remove harmful content that poses risks to the physical and mental health of minors. The authorities have stated that they will target content that promotes the use of prohibited substances, dangerous social media 'challenges' involving self-harm or climbing to great heights, and materials that encourage hazardous driving practices such as illegal drifting and speeding.