Romania: Major DIICOT operations target drug rings and fraud

Romanian authorities, led by DIICOT, are conducting several major criminal investigations involving organized crime, fraud, and environmental damage.

In Arad, prosecutors have dismantled a drug trafficking group that allegedly used a 10-year-old child to sell cannabis and synthetic drugs. Ten people are under investigation, with seven facing preventive arrest.

In a separate large-scale operation, authorities dismantled an international drug trafficking network involving massive shipments of cocaine, cannabis, and hashish via heavy goods vehicles. The network, which utilized encrypted communication, resulted in seizures worth approximately 25 million euros.

The Nordis real estate case has expanded significantly, with total damages now estimated at 75 million euros following 50 new criminal complaints. The investigation targets administrators of the Nordis group for large-scale fraud involving unfulfilled apartment promises.

Additionally, police are investigating a systematic theft ring targeting Romanian Railways (CFR) infrastructure. Employees of companies involved in railway modernization allegedly stole copper and aluminum cables, which were then burned at unauthorized sites to extract metals. This process caused environmental damage, including the illegal disposal of toxic residues into the Mureș River.