By Mapaballo Borotho
- A Bulgarian fugitive convicted of drug trafficking was arrested in Cape Town after hiding for years as a gym instructor.
- He is set to appear in court for extradition to Romania.
- In a separate case, a murder suspect will be handed over to South African authorities by Zimbabwe.
A convicted drug trafficker, Stanislav Stamenov, was arrested at his Cape Town home on Friday morning.
The 41-year-old Bulgarian national was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in Romania in 2009 but fled the country shortly after.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Stamenov was part of a large organised criminal group involved in trafficking heroin into Romania.
“It is believed that he was hiding in Cape Town for several years, where he was working as a gym instructor at several well-known fitness clubs.
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,” said Mathe.
Stamenov is expected to appear before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for his extradition matter on Monday, 02 March 2026.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Alton Ncube will be surrendered to Interpol South Africa by Zimbabwean authorities.
Ncube is wanted by Gauteng police for allegedly murdering his wife in February 2025.
The murder took place in Jabulani, Soweto. Shortly after the incident, Ncube fled the country to Zimbabwe, where he was later arrested.
He will be handed over at the Beitbridge Border Post on 4 March 2026.
READ NEXT: Boksburg community lives in fear following attempted assassination of suspected police informer
The post Safe haven for criminals? Romanian drug trafficker arrested while posing as gym instructor in Cape Town appeared first on KAYA 959.
