Cape Town – Bulgarian fugitive Stanislav Stamenov, who has been on the run for several years after he was convicted on charges of drug trafficking, has been arrested by South African police at a residence in Cape Town, Western Cape.
Stamenov was part of a large criminal organised group involved in the trafficking of heroin into Romania, which shares a border with his own country, Bulgaria, in southern Europe.
The 41-year-old drug trafficker was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in Romania in 2009, but fled the country shortly after.
On Friday, 27 February 2026, the long arm of the law caught up with Stamenov when he was arrested.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the fugitive was arrested in the morning at his home by the SA Police Service National Intervention Unit (NIU) in Cape Town.
“It’s believed that he was hiding in Cape Town for several years, where he was now working as a gym instructor in several well-known fitness clubs,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“He was placed on an Interpol red notice, which is a global search request to law enforcement agencies across the world for assistance in apprehending a fugitive.
“Following his arrest by NIU this morning, he is detained and will appear before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for his extradition matter on Monday.”
