Asset forfeiture

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said on Aug. 9 authorities have dismantled 119 criminal gangs in the city this year, following 747 operations that resulted in the apprehension of over 3,500 individuals.

Nearly 1,700 of those were arrested, and around 700 were released on probation.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has sued Bulgaria for its handling of asset confiscation cases, marking the country's first illegal asset forfeiture law. The court found that Bulgarian authorities failed to establish a clear link between the confiscated property and the crimes for which individuals had been convicted.

Law enforcement officials have intercepted a significant quantity of illicit rakia, totaling over 1,000 liters, in a village located in the Silistra region, according to an announcement from the Ministry of the Interior.

Customs authorities may have had a remarkably fruitful year in 2017 as regards inspections on tobacco products - confiscating 154 million contraband cigarettes and imposing taxes and fines of 581 million euros - but they also excelled in original catches, which included the confiscation of crocodiles, eels, sturgeon eggs, underwear and cutlery.

A record-high BGN 18.5 M in property has been confiscated on behalf of the state after it was discovered that the assets have been acquired illegally. Another BGN 13 M in property have to be ruled on by the court. Thus, the total amount will reach BGN 20 M in assets confiscated with sentences that have entered into force.

While the vast majority of properties have been returned or their owners compensated, several major cases are still pending.

The Turkish government has moved to boost its contribution in global counter-terrorism efforts by ratifying a key convention of the Council of Europe (CoE), of which it is a founding member state.

Montenegrin Justice Minister Zoran Pazin on Thursday said the government had adopted a bill on forfeiture of criminal assets, which aims to tackle the economic power of those behind corruption and crime.

The asset forfeiture law allows the government to seize and keep cash, cars, real estate, and any other property through the so-called freezing procedure.

The Government passed on Wednesday the bill on the establishment of the National Agency for the Management of Seized Assets, which will report to the Ministry of Justice.

Photo credit: (c) Liviu SOVA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE