Bulgarian customs officers seize 48 kg heroin

SOFIA, May 13 (Reuters) Bulgarian customs officers seized 48 kg of heroin estimated to be worth some 4.3 million levs (3 million dollars) in a truck travelling from Turkey to Macedonia, the customs office said today.

The drug was put in 91 packages and hidden in secret compartments in the truck.

This is the fifth time Bulgaria has seized heroin at its Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint with Turkey since the beginning of the year, the customs said.

European union newcomer Bulgaria, which joined the bloc in January, has long served as a key route for smugglers trafficking goods and drugs to western Europe.

It has pledged to show results in fighting organised crime and step up border control to avoid triggering safeguard clauses in a June report the European Commission is to issue to assess the country's progress.

REUTERS DS KN1800