Romanian prosecutors raid five counties over Bacalaureat exam fraud

Prosecutors from the Alba Tribunal coordinated a large‑scale operation on 3 July 2026, carrying out 47 search warrants in the counties of Alba, Arad, Bihor, Cluj and Sibiu. The raids targeted a suspected network that allegedly supplied confidential Bacalaureat exam questions to candidates in exchange for fees up to 5 000 lei per exam (about 1 500 lei per subject).

Investigators say the scheme used sophisticated equipment – smart glasses with built‑in cameras, hidden earpieces and other electronic devices – to capture and relay exam content during the tests. Five persons, aged 27‑44, were detained for 24 hours on charges of divulging secret service information and fraudulently influencing the national high‑school graduation exam. The Ministry of Education confirmed that several cheating attempts were stopped by exam supervisors and stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the examination system. The case remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to identify all participants and assess the number of candidates who may have benefited from the scheme.