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This is the second updated edition under the same
title, published by the Center for the Study of Democracy of
its Reports/ Analyses series to be distributed among participants
in Regional Coordination Meeting of Subtable "Justice and Home
Affairs" of Stability Pact Working Table III, held in Sofia on
October 3rd, 2000.
This latest analytical report is the outcome of the
efforts of non-government organizations and state institutions, and
of independent experts and journalists as well within the framework
of the Coalition 2000 process. Launched in 1997,
Coalition 2000 strives to support the restriction and
curbing of corrupt practices in Bulgarian society, including
regular monitoring of public perceptions and attitudes towards
corruption.
The illicit trafficking growth, as one of the most
important sources of local "gray economy" throughout the 90ies, was
caused by a number of international and internal factors, the most
crucial of which being the weakening of the post-communist state
and the spread of corruption practices among state officials.
The threat on society posed by the interlacing of
the interests both of crossborder crime perpetrators and the
associated corrupt public officials (customs officials being the
most alarming example according to public opinion), became a
serious public concern. This initiated the necessity to analyze the
phenomenon and to identify adequate monitoring and counteraction
measures, moreover this type of crime finds further confirmation in
experts' estimate that a large portion of the local gray economy is
related to smuggling of goods and the proceeds of the respective
unlawful activities.
The report examines the processes of illegal
trafficking and the related corruption in Bulgaria, identifying
their typical manifestations and the practical assessment,
prevention and control strategies and methodologies in three
sections as follows:
- an analysis of crossborder crime in Bulgaria during the
90ies;
- a review of the sociological and statistical methods of
measuring illicit trafficking;
- Practically oriented proposals with the aim of curbing
corruption and trafficking.
The first section emphasizes on the combined impact
of trafficking and corruption in the context of current
criminological environment in this country and the increasing
crossborder nature of crime. The problem has been deliberately set
in the national context, seemingly isolated from global crime.
The second section of the paper (Monitoring the
illegal trafficking) proposes two relevant methods of measuring the
contraband merchandises imported in the country and the sample
survey methods for assessing of smuggling. One of them, the "mirror
statistics" method, compares overseas and local official data
regarding the export/import of this country. It is applied to
assess the scope of the gray economy as a whole, and to locate the
main "contraband markets" in Bulgaria. In addition, an original
mechanism is developed, which combines monitoring through sample
interviews, with exerting control over contraband goods. This
mechanism is oriented towards future cooperation between local NGOs
and public authorities (customs and police).
The third section of the paper consists of proposed
measures to be undertaken to curb illegal trafficking and
corruption in this country. It is coined after the Coalition
2000 Anti-Corruption Action Plan and outlines the synergy of
public sector reform and civil society anti-corruption initiatives.
It also stresses on the importance of enhancing international
cooperation in the framework of Bulgaria's EU accession.
Statistical data provided by the Customs Agency have
been used in this second updated edition of the paper. A number of
recommendations by the Agency's experts have also been taken in
consideration.
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