Control over EU external borders and guaranteeing of security of movement of people, goods and services; prevention of terrorism and trans-border forms of corruption; and introduction of a policy of remuneration of police officers, according to their performance. These are the three priority areas of operation identified by Interior Minister Roumen Petkov at a national meeting, held in Pleven on Monday, BTA reports.

Efficiency of operation has been considerably improved given the heavy workload, Petkov told the participants. The next goal involves higher awareness on the part of policemen of their goals and tasks and showing of greater initiative and independence.

"Unfortunately, the society does not have quite a realistic idea of our work," Petkov stated. The vicious period of leakage of information about investigations has been overcome. However, the
Interior Minister warned against the other extreme, involving a total lack of transparency.

Losses in the economy of over 57 million leva's worth were prevented in the past two years, Petkov reported. A total of 5,644 drug-related crimes were cleared in the period under review. Some 7,000 kg and about 1 million pills of narcotic and intoxicating substances, 707 kg of cocaine and 13 tonnes of precursors were seized jointly with the Customs Agency. Four illegal laboratories for synthetic substances were detected and 34 trans-border drug trafficking rings broken and 44 organized drug trafficking and distribution criminal operations were neutralized, the Interior Minister stated.