Fugitive wanted by Interpol captured in Cape Town after years on the run

Stanislav Stamenov, 41, a Bulgarian national sentenced to 16 years in Romania for heroin trafficking, was arrested in Cape Town on Friday and is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court in connection with extradition proceedings. Photo: Supplied A Bulgarian national sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in Romania for heroin trafficking has been arrested at his Cape Town home after allegedly living in the city for several years while on an Interpol red notice. Stanislav Stamenov, 41, was arrested on Friday morning by the South African Police Service’s National Intervention Unit (NIU).

He is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with extradition proceedings. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest. “A 41-year-old convicted drug trafficker was arrested on Friday morning at his home by the SAPS National Intervention Unit in Cape Town,” Mathe said.

She said Stamenov was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in Romania in 2009 for his role in a large organised criminal group involved in trafficking heroin into the country, but fled shortly after sentencing. “He was part of a large criminal organised group involved in the trafficking of heroin into Romania. It’s believed that he was hiding in Cape Town for several years,” Mathe said.

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She added that Stamenov had been placed on an Interpol red notice — a global request to law-enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a fugitive pending extradition. “Following his arrest by the NIU, he is detained and will appear before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for his extradition matter on Monday,” she said. As previously reported, clients at a Virgin Active gym in Constantia expressed shock and disbelief after learning that their trainer, identified online as Stamenov Stanislav Sevdanilov, was allegedly wanted by Romanian authorities. One client, who spoke on condition of anonymity at the time, described him as “kind, considerate, funny and generous”.

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