DIICOT detains seven people: 1.7 tonnes of drugs bound for Albanian traffickers
Six men and one woman were detained following 16 house searches in Bucharest and counties across the country. Police confiscated 1.7 tonnes of drugs, weapons and assets worth approximately €400,000.
Drug trafficking network dismantled: 1.7 tonnes confiscated, seven detained
DIICOT – Central Structure conducted 16 house searches on Monday, 24 August, in Bucharest and several counties across the country, according to Cotidianul.ro. Following the operations, seven people — six men and one woman — were issued retention orders for 24 hours.
The detained individuals are being investigated for forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in high-risk and very high-risk drugs in continuous form, as well as money laundering, according to a statement transmitted by the Romanian Police.
What was discovered during the searches
Investigators confiscated 1.7 tonnes of drugs that were intended to reach Albanian traffickers. The retained persons had the role of transporting the substances. The network was coordinated by a Romanian citizen placed on EUROPOL's "High Value Target" list last year.
In addition to the quantity of drugs, following the raids, 54 gold and silver coins, a bar of bullion, a luxury watch, sums of money in lei, euros, dollars and forints, a firearm (rifle with bayonet) and data storage devices were found.
"A confiscation measure was instituted on multiple movable and immovable assets worth approximately €400,000 (four properties and one luxury car), as well as on 27 bank accounts opened in the names of the investigated persons," the Romanian Police further stated.
Shipments detected in four European countries
According to DIICOT, the gang's activity was documented through investigation and resulted in four shipments detected by judicial authorities in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, on the basis of evidence and information transmitted by law enforcement bodies in Romania.
The operation was carried out jointly by officers from the Directorate for Combatting Organised Crime – Anti-Drug Service and prosecutors from DIICOT – Drug Trafficking Combatting Section.
Source: Cotidianul.ro