AFP – Fugitive Bulgarian druglord Evelin Banev, wanted in several European countries, surrendered to law enforcement authorities early yesterday, the interior ministry said.
The former wrestler had been sought since 2018.
Ukrainian authorities caught him in Kiev in September 2021 but refused to extradite him on the ground that he has acquired Ukrainian nationality.
His whereabouts had been unknown since then.
“I can confirm that around 7.30am this morning Evelin Banev ‘Brendo’, who has been declared internationally wanted, surrendred voluntarily.
“Police will transfer him to prison authorities,” interior ministry spokesman Mitko Dimitrov told AFP.
A webclip uploaded on social media by the flagman.bg news website showed Banev and his lawyer Petar Zafirov walking to Sofia’s central prison.
“Banev shows up to serve a punishment that has been imposed on him in line with a sentence that’s final,” Zafirov told the reporter.
Banev, 59, wearing a grey baseball cap, only said “Of course” when the reported asked him if he realises what was doing.
Banev fled after being sentenced in 2013 in Bulgaria to seven-and-a-half years in jail for money laundering. The sentence was lowered to six years on appeal.
He has been the subject of an Interpol red notice since then.
Banev was also wanted by Romania where he was sentenced in absentia to 10-and-a-half years for drug trafficking.
In late 2017, he was also sentenced to 20 years in jail in Italy for smuggling up to 40 tonnes of cocaine from Latin America between 2004 and 2007 and supplying the ‘Ndrangheta mafia.
