Romanian drivers transported cocaine and hashish in lorries with secret compartments for Albanians
A mixed network of Romanian and foreign nationals allegedly transported 1.7 tonnes of drugs from Spain into Europe. DIICOT carried out 16 searches across multiple counties.
International drug trafficking network dismantled after transports valued at 9.6 million euros
DIICOT and anti-drug police officers conducted 16 searches on Monday, 24 August, in Timișoara, Satu Mare, Oradea, Câmpulung Moldovenesc and in the counties of Maramureș, Satu Mare, Timiș and Mehedinți, targeting a group that allegedly transported approximately 1.7 tonnes of drugs from Spain to several European states via lorries equipped with hidden compartments, reports libertatea.ro.
According to investigators, the group allegedly operated starting in September 2023, when five entities—four men and a commercial company with an international transport profile—formed the nucleus of a pyramid-type organised criminal group. Subsequently, other members, Romanian and foreign nationals, allegedly joined the structure.
"Starting in September 2023, five persons allegedly formed a pyramid-type organised criminal group, to which other members, Romanian and foreign nationals, subsequently joined, with the aim of obtaining substantial sums of money from the procurement and transportation, from Spain to various European states, of quantities in the hundreds of kilograms of high-risk and serious-risk drugs, namely cannabis resin, cannabis and cocaine, through the use of heavy-tonnage road vehicles (lorries), equipped with hidden compartments", DIICOT specified.
The transported drugs—cannabis, hashish and cocaine—were valued at approximately 9.6 million euros at wholesale level and 25 million euros at retail price.
Orders from Albanian traffickers executed from a command centre in Romania
The investigation established that the group allegedly operated as a specialised transport service for international narcotic trafficking networks. Orders allegedly came from Albanian traffickers, whilst members in Romania ensured logistics: they recruited drivers, prepared vehicles and monitored routes.
"In essence, the investigated group allegedly offered to Albanian drug trafficker groups transport services for various types and quantities of high-risk and serious-risk drugs, from countries—entry points for drugs into Europe, to countries—destination points in Europe, depending on orders, establishing the typical mode of operation 'crime as a service'", the DIICOT statement indicates.
If a transport was seized, the group leaders provided legal assistance to detained drivers and reviewed criminal files to prevent identification of other members.
Four transports intercepted in France, Germany, Italy and Spain
The investigation was conducted in cooperation with authorities in France, Spain, Italy and Germany, through Eurojust, and with support from Europol. Four drug transports were detected in these states as a result of international judicial cooperation.
The organised criminal group allegedly included another 10 persons—nine men and one woman—as well as four commercial companies used as legal cover for the transportation of prohibited substances. Another person, the life partner of one of the leaders, allegedly supported the entire activity of the group.
Leader included on Europol's High Value Targets list
In 2025, the leader of the group, a Romanian national, was included, at Romania's request, on Europol's High Value Targets list, "being considered a major-risk target for serious and organised cross-border crime", according to DIICOT.
Evidence gathered shows that the leader used a specific encrypted communication application typical in trafficking circles. The data were obtained from the French authorities through a European Investigation Order and will be used as evidence of his lasting links with Albanian traffickers.
The case concerns the formation of an organised criminal group, trafficking in high-risk and serious-risk drugs and money laundering. The persons under investigation are to be heard at DIICOT headquarters – Central Structure and benefit from the presumption of innocence and all procedural guarantees provided by law.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)