Wanted Bulgarian drug trafficker works as personal trainer in Cape Town

A Bulgarian man wanted by Romania for alleged drug trafficking has been found working as a personal trainer at a Virgin Active gym in an upscale Cape Town suburb. This discovery follows a 2023 report on suspected criminals from Bulgaria possibly hiding in the city. The case highlights ongoing concerns about international fugitives in South Africa.

In 2023, journalist Caryn Dolley reported on individuals from Bulgaria who were wanted in other countries for criminal activities and might be residing in Cape Town, South Africa. Recent investigations have confirmed that one such individual, Stanislav Stamenov, sought by Romanian authorities for alleged drug trafficking, has indeed been in the city. Stamenov has been offering personal training services at a Virgin Active gym located in a posh suburb of Cape Town.

The report, published on February 2, 2026, underscores the presence of international fugitives potentially evading justice in South Africa. While details on Stamenov's current status or any arrests remain unclear from available information, the revelation points to challenges in tracking wanted persons across borders. Dolley's work, edited by Joel Seboa and filmed by the same, brings attention to crime and security issues in the region.

Keywords associated with the story include drug trafficking, crime, and Cape Town, emphasizing the intersection of international law enforcement and local communities.

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Illustration of a Swedish man handcuffed and escorted by police at Arlanda Airport after extradition from Morocco for serious drug offenses.
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Man detained after extradition from Morocco for serious drug offenses

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A 39-year-old Swedish man has been detained on probable cause suspected of very serious drug offenses after extradition from Morocco to Sweden. He arrived at Arlanda on Wednesday evening and was detained at Norrtälje District Court on Friday. The investigation concerns a cocaine purification facility involving large quantities of black cocaine.

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.

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Authorities in the United Kingdom have charged three men after seizing nearly 1 ton of cocaine worth about £75 million hidden in a shipment of bananas at Southampton Docks. The drugs arrived from Panama, originally from Nicaragua. The suspects face potential life sentences if convicted.

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