Vasil Iliev

Vasil Iliev (; January 22, 1965 – April 25, 1995) was a Bulgarian mobster, businessman and wrestler. Iliev is considered to have been the most powerful gangster in the Balkans during his time.

Background Vasil Iliev was born in 1965 in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. He grew to be a very successful wrestler, becoming a national champion and heading the country's wrestling federation.

Criminal career Iliev left Bulgaria for Czechoslovakia, looking for a better future. There he met Ivo Karamanski, who was the ringleader of the Bulgarian mafia abroad, involved in car thefts, armed robberies and contract killings. 7-8 months after his arrival, Vasil Iliev was arrested, together with his friend nicknamed "Drobeca". He spent 2 months in a Czech prison on charges of robbery, which were never proven.

Iliev later made millions smuggling petroleum into Serbia during the UN-imposed embargo. By this time, Iliev was arguably the most powerful crime boss in the Balkans.

The next boss of VIS was his brother Georgi Iliev. He was shot dead by a suspected sniper in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, a little more than 10 years after his brother.