Leadership, history, legal framework and public information about the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime at the Ministry of the Interior.
Martin Zlatkov began his law enforcement career in 2001 as an officer of the Economic Police Sector at the Sofia Directorate of the Interior. He joined the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime in 2007 as an inspector in the Counterfeiting Sector. In 2012 he became head of the same sector. From 2013 to 2015 he headed a sector at the State Agency for National Security (SANS).
After the General Directorate was re-established, he headed GDCOC's regional structure in Veliko Tarnovo. From 2017 he was head of the Cross-Border Organised Crime Department. His professional path in the Directorate's central structure continued in operational and managerial positions.
An officer with over 25 years of experience in combating cross-border organised crime, he has led and taken part in numerous significant national and international specialised operations. Director of GDCOC since 5 March 2026.
Martin Zlatkov holds a master's degree in economics from the St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo. He has completed numerous qualification courses in Bulgaria and abroad, including with the FBI, the US Secret Service, Europol and others. He has received a number of awards and distinctions from the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior and partner organisations. He speaks English, German and Russian.
Acting — temporarily reassigned to the position
The General Directorate Combating Organised Crime was established on 13 February 1991 as the Central Service for Combating Organised Crime (CSBOP) within the Ministry of the Interior. At that time, services with similar functions and competences existed in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Central Service for Combating Organised Crime (CSBOP) is established within the Ministry of the Interior — 13 February 1991.
Restructured as a National Service within the Ministry of the Interior (NSBOP).
Transformed into the Countering Organised and Serious Crime Directorate within General Directorate Criminal Police.
Re-established as a General Directorate within the Ministry of the Interior (GDCOC).
In the summer of 2013 the service, with all its assets and liabilities, is transferred to the structure of the State Agency for National Security (SANS).
Following amendments to the Ministry of the Interior Act, the directorate resumes functioning as GDCOC — February 2015.
Notwithstanding the structural changes, over the years GDCOC has built substantial professional and administrative capacity, reflected in the effective performance of tasks related to countering organised crime in the economy and the financial and credit system, terrorist acts, illegal deals in weapons and ammunition, smuggling, the production, trafficking and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances, trafficking in human beings, the production and distribution of counterfeit currency and securities, corruption and cybercrime.
The results of GDCOC-MoI's work have earned trust and positive assessments among Bulgarian citizens and foreign partners, leading to deeper operational cooperation and information exchange and establishing it as a reliable part of the European police community.
Adequate legislation, a high standard of management and the professionalism of GDCOC-MoI's officers are the guarantee of effective action against organised crime and successful performance of its tasks in the public interest.
The principal legal instruments governing the activity of the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime at the Ministry of the Interior are (texts in Bulgarian):
As well as international and European legislation in the field of internal security and public order.
GDCOC stands for General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (in Bulgarian: ГДБОП). It is a specialised structure of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria that investigates organised crime groups (OCGs). Such investigations are complex, lengthy, labour-intensive and costly! Organised crime groups are distinguished by their complex hierarchical structure, the durability of their criminal agreement, the interconnection of their members, the frequently transnational nature of their activity, millions in damages caused, and so on.
NSBOP (National Service for Combating Organised Crime) was the name of the same service until 2008.
SANS — the State Agency for National Security — is a specialised law enforcement organisation reporting directly to the government and parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria. SANS possesses broad, sophisticated and reliable capabilities for countering destructive influences on the country's national security.
SOBT is the Specialised Unit for Combating Terrorism of the Ministry of the Interior. The unit performs specific tasks countering terrorist activity, kidnappings and other large-scale attacks against citizens and property.
The General Directorate Combating Organised Crime is a specialised structure of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. All GDCOC officers started their careers in the Ministry of the Interior just like every other police officer! If you want to work for the Ministry of the Interior — apply at the police precinct in your place of residence. Information about announced recruitment competitions is available on the website of the Ministry's Human Resources Directorate at mvr.bg/dhr.
GDCOC officers perform their duties while protecting their own life and safety, as well as the lives, safety and property of all citizens! Breaching doors, barriers and other obstacles serves the timely and proper preservation and collection of admissible evidence of criminal activity. That is GDCOC's priority and duty!
Under the legislation in force in the Republic of Bulgaria, every victim of crime should seek assistance from the Ministry of the Interior at the police precinct on whose territory the crime was committed, or at the precinct of their place of residence. If you become a victim of crime — go immediately to the nearest police precinct. If you do not know which precinct is nearest, ask the first uniformed police officer you see, or a neighbour, relative, acquaintance or friend. A duty police officer or other member of staff is available around the clock at every police precinct in the Republic of Bulgaria. Explain precisely, clearly and chronologically all circumstances known to you about the crime or violation — whether you are a victim, witness, eyewitness or otherwise.
In an emergency call 112 — free of charge from any landline or mobile phone, no city or country code needed! Report the crime, violation or emergency slowly, calmly, precisely and clearly. Follow the operator's instructions.
If you are a victim of, or witness to, OCG activity in Bulgaria or abroad — GDCOC-MoI officers will contact you for further clarification and action on the case!
Messages to GDCOC-MoI sent via the feedback form are of an informative nature — they can serve as a starting point for future checks and/or investigations by the Ministry of the Interior. If you submit a report — be prepared to provide additional information and even to testify!
In urgent cases you must contact the police on 112 or at the nearest police precinct.
Anonymous reports are subject to lengthy and detailed verification so that the information in them can be used properly!
When sending a message, remember that GDCOC is the Ministry of the Interior's specialised structure for combating organised crime groups. Messages containing phrases such as "I have important information about a big criminal... aliens are controlling minds... I am very smart and strong and want to work for you... Ivan from Varna sells drugs" cannot be the subject of in-depth checks.
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View pageDocuments in this section are in Bulgarian.
