Fugitive hiding as Virgin Constantia gym instructor arrested
· The South African
A 41-year-old convicted drug trafficker who fled a prison sentence in Europe has been arrested in Cape Town.
Visit goldparty.lat for more information.
Bulgarian national Stanislav Stamenov was taken into custody on Friday by the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Intervention Unit.
Stamenov was convicted in 2009 in Romania and sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment for his role in a large organised criminal group involved in heroin trafficking.
According to a SAPS statement, he was part of a criminal syndicate responsible for trafficking heroin into Romania but fled shortly after his conviction and had been evading authorities for years.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Authorities believe Stamenov had been living in Cape Town for several years, working as a gym instructor at various well-known fitness clubs – including Virgin Constantia – while avoiding international law enforcement.
His arrest followed the circulation of an Interpol Red Notice – a global alert issued to member countries to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition.
Court Appearance
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where extradition proceedings are set to begin.
SAPS said the arrest highlights ongoing cooperation between South African authorities and international law enforcement agencies in tracking down fugitives seeking refuge in the country.
#sapsHQ A 41yr-old, convicted drug trafficker was arrested on Friday morning at his home by the SAPS National Intervention Unit (NIU) in Cape Town. Stanislav Stamenov, a Bulgarian national, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment in Romania in 2009 but fled the country shortly… pic.twitter.com/Nvx3SB2jzb
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) February 27, 2026