Drug transport network for Albanians dismantled: 7 arrested, 1.7 tonnes seized
Seven people were detained on Monday following 16 searches in Bucharest and several counties in a case concerning drug trafficking for Albanian narco-traffickers. Authorities seized a total of over 1.7 tonnes of cocaine, cannabis and hashish.
Seven detained following 16 searches: group that transported drugs for Albanians targeted by DIICOT
Six men and one woman were detained on Monday, 24 August, following 16 searches carried out in Bucharest and in several counties, according to News.ro. The case concerns a group that allegedly provided drug transport services for Albanian narco-traffickers.
The action was led by police officers from the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime – Anti-Drug Service, together with prosecutors from DIICOT – Central Structure, Section for Combating Drug Trafficking. The seven are being investigated for forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in risk and high-risk drugs on a continuing basis, as well as money laundering, according to the Romanian Police.
What investigators found during the searches
Following the searches, 54 gold and silver coins, an ingot, a luxury watch, sums of money in lei, euros, dollars and forints, a rifle with sights, data storage devices, documents and other pieces of evidence were discovered and seized.
Moreover, the precautionary seizure measure was imposed on moveable and immoveable property valued at approximately 400,000 euros — four properties and a luxury car — as well as on 27 bank accounts opened in the names of the persons being investigated, according to the source cited. On Tuesday, the judge for rights and freedoms at Bucharest Court was approached with a proposal for the detention of the seven.
Group leader listed by Europol, drugs hidden in lorries
The leader of the group, a Romanian citizen, was listed last year by Europol, at the request of Romania, as a "High Value Target" — a person whose criminal activity generates a major, cross-border threat for two or more member states of the European Union.
During the investigation, authorities seized over 1.7 tonnes of drugs — cocaine, cannabis and hashish — the substances being transported in hidden compartments in lorries.
According to DIICOT, the group's activity was documented in four shipments detected by judicial authorities from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, on the basis of evidence and information transmitted by Romanian investigators. The seizures totalled 114 kg cocaine, 228.219 kg cannabis and 1,376.913 kg cannabis resin (hashish) — approximately 1,719 kg in total, with an estimated value of approximately 9.6 million euros at wholesale level and approximately 25 million euros at retail level, based on EUDA market values.
Hearings in this case will take place at DIICOT – Central Structure.
Source: News.ro