Drug trafficking offences rise by nearly a quarter in Romania
Authorities discovered over 6,600 offences involving illegal drug trade in the first five months of the year, a rise of 24.7% compared to 2025. Police seized hundreds of kilograms of prohibited substances and dismantled ten criminal networks.
Drug trafficking offences rise by nearly a quarter in Romania
Law enforcement identified 6,666 offences related to illegal drug trade between 1 January and 31 May, a rise of 24.7% compared to the same period in 2025, according to a statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent to AGERPRES.
Officials from the institution explained that the increase in figures reflects both the way criminal gangs continuously adjust their tactics to new market conditions and improvements in the institutional capacity to detect and prove such acts.
During the same period, law enforcement carried out 456 operational interventions targeting organised groups operating in the drug field. In the course of these operations, investigators conducted 1,278 home searches and succeeded in dismantling ten structured criminal networks.
Specialised units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confiscated 498 kilograms of risk and high-risk substances in the first five months. At the same time, 24,214 pills and over 117 kilograms of plant material obtained from clandestine cultivation were seized.
In the road safety segment, 17,731 drivers were subjected to tests for detecting the use of psychoactive substances. Following the checks, 282 cases were recorded of driving under the influence of such products and 392 offences related to drug trafficking or unlawful use of drugs. Additionally, 333 driving licences were suspended for driving under the influence of narcotics or other prohibited products.
The Ministry reaffirms that combating drug trafficking and unauthorised drug consumption remains a strategic priority for protecting citizens and public health. Officials specified that they have increased the staff of specialised structures, developed research and investigation laboratories, expanded the capacity of canine teams for detecting narcotics and equipped operational units with mobile scanners and modern apparatus for identifying prohibited substances.
Since the beginning of the year, departments for school safety and crime prevention have conducted 5,326 information and prevention activities regarding trade in psychoactive substances, both in educational institutions and among local communities.
Source: AGERPRES
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)