The author shows how Bulgarian gangs have set up a lucrative trafficking chain that deals in drugs, women, arms, and cigarettes and alcohol. These gangs have grown in prominence as a result of the fall of Bulgaria’s communist regime in 1989, which set the stage for rampant corruption and organized crime. Lax law enforcement combined with a largely poor population has led to the proliferation of organized criminal groups. The author discusses the roots of organized crime in Bulgaria as well as its structure, its global links, its ties to drug and human trafficking, and how the law enforcement community is working to curb its activities. Analysts describe a two-tiered structure within organized crime in Bulgaria. One tier manages a network of suppliers, transporters, and other specialists necessary to successfully and illegally transport goods and people. The second tier handles profit management and investment and hires computer experts and economists to ensure the safety and profit of the organization. The author also shows how these Bulgarian gangs serve as auxiliary units to Turkish and Albanian crime networks that like to transport illegal goods through Bulgaria. In the past, Bulgarian authorities have lacked the resources to fight these criminal activities. However, following the coming to power of the new reformist government in 1997, Bulgaria has adopted a series of legal changes that impose criminal sanctions on activities such as bribery and undue influence.