CAPE TOWN – A Bulgarian national who fled Romania after being sentenced for drug trafficking has been arrested at his Cape Town home after spending years working as a gym instructor whilst evading international law enforcement.
Stanislav Stamenov, 41, was apprehended on Friday morning, 27 February, by the South African Police Service’s National Intervention Unit at his residence in the Mother City, the police confirmed in a statement.
Years on the run
Stamenov was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in Romania in 2009 for his involvement in a large criminal organisation that trafficked heroin into the country. However, he fled Romania shortly after his sentencing.
The convicted trafficker had been living in Cape Town for several years, where he found employment as a gym instructor at several well-known fitness clubs whilst remaining a fugitive from justice.
Following an inquiry by the Daily Maverick, who first reported Stamenov’s recent tenure at one of South Africa’s top gym brands, Virgin Active promptly suspended Stamenov as part of their standard procedures and initiated an internal review to investigate the claims surrounding his status.
Jacqui Walter, Virgin Active’s head of customer service, assured that the gym had stringent measures in place regarding the scrutiny of its personal trainers. She added that the company is currently collaborating with relevant authorities.
Court appearance scheduled
Stamenov’ s arrest came after he was placed on an Interpol red notice, which serves as a global search request to law enforcement agencies worldwide for assistance in apprehending fugitives.
Following his arrest, Stamenov is being held in custody and will appear before the Wynberg Magistrate Court on Monday 2 March for his extradition proceedings.
Second fugitive to be handed over
In a separate development, 33-year-old Alton Ncube will be surrendered to Interpol South Africa by Zimbabwean authorities next week. Ncube is wanted by Gauteng police for murdering his wife in February 2025.
The murder occurred in Jabulani, Soweto, with Ncube reportedly recording the incident and sharing the video widely with friends and family members before fleeing to Zimbabwe, where he was subsequently arrested.
Ncube will be handed over at the Beitbridge border post on 4 March.
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