Hamza Darlishta detained in Haskovo over €98,500 in suspected counterfeit banknotes

The District Court in Haskovo has ordered pretrial detention for 19-year-old Macedonian citizen Hamza Darlishta, who is suspected of attempting to transport counterfeit euro banknotes worth a total of €98,500 across the Bulgarian–Turkish border.

According to court records, on 19 October officers at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing inspected Darlishta and discovered counterfeit notes concealed in the lining of his jacket: 300 banknotes of €200 and 385 banknotes of €100, which investigators believe are fake.

Court rationale and next steps

The Haskovo court concluded there was no immediate risk that the suspect would reoffend, but found a real risk of flight given the seriousness of the charge, Darlishta’s foreign citizenship and the fact that he has no permanent address or registered residence in Bulgaria. The decision to remand him in custody can be appealed to the Plovdiv Court of Appeal.

The indictment alleges an attempt to move a substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit currency across an international border; investigators and prosecutors will continue enquiries while the appeal period runs.

No additional personal details about Darlishta’s background or the intended destination of the cash were released by the court at the time of the order.

Photo: press material from the event