A Bulgarian man wanted by Interpol for drug trafficking in Romania has been suspended from his job as a personal trainer at a Virgin Active gym in Cape Town's Constantia suburb. The suspension followed inquiries by Daily Maverick, which linked him to an active Interpol red notice. He was previously associated with a Bulgarian crime figure killed in the same area in 2023.
Stan Stamenov, whose full name is Stanislav Sevdanilov Stamenov, appeared on Virgin Active's online platform and gym wall in Constantia as a senior personal trainer specializing in bodybuilding, boxing, functional training, martial arts, and weight loss. He obtained his qualification from a South African fitness academy and was listed as a South African resident with a birth date matching the Interpol notice.
Daily Maverick confirmed the connection after being alerted last week. The Interpol red notice, still active as of January 26, 2026, requests law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest Stamenov pending extradition for 'trafficking in drugs' in Romania. Romanian authorities list him as a fugitive facing a 16-year prison sentence for narcotics offenses, including introducing high-risk drugs like heroin into the country. A 2009 statement from Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism implicated him in a drug-trafficking syndicate.
Stamenov was reportedly a bodyguard for Krasimir Kamenov, another Bulgarian on an Interpol red notice, who was killed along with his wife Gergana, and employees Slava Sergieva and Dean Evgeniev in their Constantia home in May 2023. This incident highlighted links between Bulgarian organized crime and South Africa, including suspicions of money laundering and drug trafficking.
In response to Daily Maverick's questions, Virgin Active's head of customer service, Jacqui Walter, stated: 'We have initiated our internal review process and are engaging with the appropriate authorities to verify the accuracy of the claims... While this review is ongoing, the personal trainer in question has been suspended with immediate effect.' The company emphasized that personal trainers are independent contractors required to comply with legal and documentation policies.
Earlier reports, including from Netwerk24 in 2023, noted Stamenov's potential presence in Cape Town. In June 2023, South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed an Interpol red notice was being processed but declined further comment due to an ongoing investigation. Broader context includes other Bulgarian-linked crimes in South Africa, such as the 2018 murders of Angelo Dimov and Nezabravka Peeva in nearby Bergvliet, and unconfirmed leads on the 'cryptoqueen' Ruja Ignatova possibly being in the country.
