Cooperation on an intricate criminal investigation has led to the interception of drug shipments across Europe with a market value of EUR 25 million. The network offered drug transport services to other criminal groups as a form of ‘crime as a service’. Eurojust coordinated judicial cooperation during parts of the investigation. An action day in Romania led to the arrest of seven suspected members of the network.
On 24 August, Romanian authorities searched 16 premises across the country, collecting important evidence. The evidence indicates that the drug trafficking network began operating in September 2023. Through a pyramid structure, the group made significant profits by providing drug transport services to other criminal groups. They transported large quantities of drugs from Spain to various other European countries. The drugs were transported in trucks with hidden compartments. To hide their profits, they set up legal companies as a front. If truck drivers were caught trafficking drugs, the criminal group would provide legal assistance and attempt to access the relevant criminal case files to ensure that no links to the group’s leaders were revealed.
When Romanian authorities began investigating the criminal group, they worked with their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and Spain through Eurojust to intercept drug shipments. Four shipments consisting of 114 kg of cocaine, 228 kg of cannabis and 1 300 kg of hashish were stopped by the authorities. The estimated market value of the intercepted drugs was approximately EUR 25 million.
To collect important evidence from the encrypted messaging service SkyECC, Romanian authorities worked with their French counterparts through Eurojust to obtain the messages that can now be used in subsequent legal proceedings.
The evidence collected on 24 August will be analysed and used to further investigate the criminal group. During the action day, Romanian authorities arrested seven suspects – including a Europol high-value target – who are currently in custody.
The actions were carried out by the following authorities:
- Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Central Structure, Section for Fighting Drug Trafficking; Financial Investigation Service for Organized Crime Groups within the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime; Special Interventions and Actions Service from the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police
- France: Public Prosecution Office Perpignan; Public Prosecution Office Paris (PNACO)
- Germany: Public Prosecution Office Heidelberg
- Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bologna
- Spain: Public Prosecution Office Tarragona; Public Prosecution Office Málaga
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union