’ISIS’-Produced Fuel Sold at Bulgarian Gas Stations

Local Editor

Fuel produced by "ISIS" terrorist group is allegedly being sold at gas stations in Bulgaria, local media reported, citing a source in the country's customs service.

According to Trud newspaper, Russian and US special services provided Bulgaria with relevant satellite imagery to prove these claims. Using these photographs, the country's authorities managed to uncover an illegal supply route for diesel and gasoline through the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas, the paper said.

In addition, the fuel found in Bulgaria is reportedly one of a number of "ISIS" supply routes to the European Union.

Relatively, the paper reported that electronic maritime traffic management systems observed several tankers stopping in seven Turkish ports on the Black and Mediterranean seas to load fuel before traveling to harbors in Greece and Bulgaria.

In light of this information, the Bulgarian security forces started a large-scale inspection of gas stations throughout the country, the publication said.

According to the same source, the smuggled oil products are of relatively low quality, deviating from EU standards by 20-40 percent for gasoline and 35-70 percent for diesel fuel.

"ISIS", which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries, controls large swaths of land in oil-rich Syria and Iraq. In late 2015, the Russian Defense Ministry presented evidence showing that the militants group has been smuggling oil across the Syrian-Turkish border in large volumes.

According to Russian envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, illicit exports of "ISIS" oil, primary via Turkey, allows it on average to generate approximately $1.5 million in revenue every day.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team