Searches at Ștoacă and Toboșarii clan homes: 21 warrants after street violence in Bucharest
Police executed 21 search warrants and 22 arrest warrants or summonses against members of the Ștoacă and Toboșarii clans, who violently disputed territories in sector 5 of the capital.
Ștoacă and Toboșarii clans targeted by police after conflicts with cold steel and Molotov cocktails
Dozens of members of two criminal groups in Bucharest were targeted on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, by a large-scale operation by the Bucharest Police. According to newsweek.ro, the operation targeted the Ștoacă and Toboșarii clans, who violently disputed territories in the south of the capital.
Officers from the General Police Directorate of Bucharest Municipality — the Violent Criminal Groups Service, with support from the Special Operations Service, the Ilfov County Police Inspectorate and the General Gendarmerie Directorate of Bucharest Municipality, executed 21 home search warrants and 22 arrest warrants or summonses in Bucharest and Ilfov county.
Allegations: extortion, repeated violence and unlicensed firearm use
The criminal case concerns offences of extortion, disturbing public order and peace, assault or other violence, violation of weapons and ammunition regulations and unlicensed firearm use, according to a statement issued by Bucharest Police.
"It was established that during the course of 2026, several men, members of a group, repeatedly carried out acts of physical and psychological violence against injured parties, with the aim of forcing them not to travel within the area of two neighbourhoods in the capital," Bucharest Police stated.
The investigation also established that one of the suspects allegedly forced two other people through violent threats to obtain financial benefits.
Ferentari and Giurgiului neighbourhoods, the bone of contention
Sources from newsweek.ro indicate that the groups were disputing control of the Ferentari neighbourhood — considered the sphere of influence of the Ștoacă clan — and Giurgiului, which was under the control of the Toboșarii clan. Points of interest also included gaming halls, which each clan wanted to prohibit members of the other group from accessing.
One of the most violent episodes resulted in gunshots and destroyed cars. "In the context of this altercation, multiple insults, abuse, threats were made, 10 firearm rounds were fired, street areas were set on fire and destruction was caused to the bodywork of several vehicles through the throwing of Molotov cocktails and other objects, with various machetes and blunt objects also being effectively used," according to sources from newsweek.ro.
Clan leaders held in custody ahead of the raid
In the days preceding the operation, the leaders of the two groups were detained by police. Among those targeted were Bebică Ștoacă, Șaim Petre — known as Petrică Ștoacă, considered the leader of the Ștoacă clan —, Erick Toboșaru and Barângă Antonio Laris, known as Antonio Toboșaru. Two members were arrested in custody.
The investigation is being continued by the Violent Criminal Groups Service, under the coordination of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Sector 5 District Court. Bucharest Police specified that against the targeted individuals, "appropriate legal measures will be taken".
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)