First: administrative or criminal
Everything else follows from this.
Some cases end with an administrative penalty and possibly forfeiture of the goods. Others become criminal proceedings. The line between them depends on the type and value of the goods and on the circumstances.
So do not assume that “I will pay the fine and it is over” before it is clear which route you are on.
What to do at the scene
Ask for an interpreter if your Bulgarian is not strong. Read every document before signing it. If what is written does not match what was said, ask for an objection to be recorded.
Keep everything: the seizure record, the inventory, the receipts. Make your own note of what was taken and in what condition.
Give no explanations before speaking to a lawyer. An explanation given to speed things along stays on the file.
Undeclared cash
A classic situation when travelling, including for people who had no intention of breaking anything.
What matters here is the amount, the direction of travel, and proving the origin of the funds. If you can show where the money came from, that is the first thing prepared.
Getting seized items back
Seizure is not automatic forfeiture. There is a procedure through which items can be released, and sometimes secured against a guarantee.
Timing matters, not least because with perishable or expensive-to-store goods the position worsens.
If you are a foreign national
Besides an interpreter, there are questions about measures affecting your ability to leave the country and about serving documents at an address abroad. Say at the outset that you do not live in Bulgaria.
Related
Fines and penalty notices, pre-trial proceedings.
What I will need
All the documents drawn up, in full. The inventory of what was seized. Documents showing the origin and ownership of the goods or money. Details of the journey. Your own account of exactly what was said and asked.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice on any specific case. Rights and deadlines depend on the facts and the applicable law.