OREANDA-NEWS. With satisfaction we note the results that point to a decrease in cigarette smuggling in the country, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the second for this year workshop of the “Initiative to combat illegal trade”. At the meeting, it was mentioned that the share of consumption of illegal cigarettes for the second quarter of 2016 has decreased to 8.1% compared to 8.3% towards the end of the fourth quarter of 2015.

This is the lowest level of illegal marketing of the product in the last nine years, but the regional police offices with less satisfactory results - Pernik, Haskovo, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Ruse, should give an explanation for the remaining higher levels of smuggling, the Prime Minister said. He gave them one month to reduce the spread of illegal cigarettes. Otherwise, dismissals will follow, said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Borissov said that measures to combat trafficking in all its varieties - of alcohol, fuel, meat, sugar, and counterfeit money are highly appreciated by the international partners of Bulgaria. He gave examples of the recognition received by Europol, Spain, Hungary, and Austria for the ceasure of illegal factories for cigarettes and counterfeit Euro. "They flee from Bulgaria, because all the power of the state is turned against them. And this will continue to be so as long as we are in power," said the Prime Minister.

Boyko Borissov congratulated all institutions involved in combating smuggling – the police, the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the customs, and the prosecution, whose efforts have led to 3.7 billion BGN more in revenue for the last two years. According to him, this additional revenue allows for implementing social policies, building infrastructure and paying old debts.

"One of the reasons they want our resignation – from one side or another, is this - the fight against smuggling. Otherwise 3.7 billion BGN would have gone to the smugglers," said Borissov. "Our efforts produce results and I can guarantee that the government in this regard will be relentless. No step back will be made... we will be even harsher. We will make maximum use of the capacity of the revenue agencies,” said the Prime Minister. 

He pointed out that all smuggling channels have already been closed and suggested that, given the long border with Serbia and Macedonia, it is possible to find some omission there. The Prime Minister, however, compared the results in Bulgaria with those in other European countries, and the comparison clearly speaks in favor of our country. "That is why they want our resignation. Because this will give them the opportunity to resume doing those things... Those who want our resignation, they should explain why they did not collect this revenue before," the Prime Minister said.

Regarding the protest organized by BSP, he said: "I saw only members of Parliament and municipal councilors from BSP yesterday".