- Seven suspects, including a high-value Europol target, arrested on 24 August 2026 in Romania after searches of 16 premises.
- Four drug shipments intercepted: 114 kg cocaine, 228 kg cannabis and 1,300 kg hashish worth approximately EUR 25 million in total.
- The network, active since September 2023, offered drug transport to other criminal groups as a service via a pyramid structure and front companies.
- Drugs were transported in trucks with hidden compartments from Spain to other European countries.
- Eurojust coordinated judicial cooperation between Romania, France, Germany, Italy and Spain during the investigation.
Seven arrested in Romanian action against European drug network
A coordinated European criminal investigation has led to the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network that provided drug transport services to other criminal organisations as a form of "crime as a service". During an action day on 24 August 2026, Romanian authorities arrested seven suspects, including a high-value Europol target, following searches of 16 premises across the country.
Intercepted shipments worth EUR 25 million
Through Eurojust-facilitated cooperation with counterparts in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, authorities managed to intercept four drug shipments totalling:
| Substance | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Cocaine | 114 kg |
| Cannabis | 228 kg |
| Hashish | 1,300 kg |
The estimated market value of the intercepted drugs was approximately EUR 25 million.
Pyramid structure and front companies
Evidence indicates that the network began operating in September 2023. The group was organised in a pyramid structure, with leadership kept at a distance from the actual transport operations. Drugs were transported in trucks equipped with hidden compartments from Spain to various other European countries.
To conceal profits, the group set up legal companies as front entities. When a truck driver was caught trafficking drugs, the network provided legal assistance and attempted to access the relevant criminal case files to ensure no links to the group's leaders were revealed.
Encrypted messages as evidence
To collect critical evidence from the encrypted messaging service SkyECC, Romanian authorities worked with their French counterparts through Eurojust to obtain messages that can now be used in subsequent legal proceedings.
Participating authorities
The operation was carried out by the following national authorities:
- Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Central Structure, Section for Fighting Drug Trafficking; Financial Investigation Service for Organized Crime Groups; 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 coordinated judicial cooperation during parts of the investigation. The evidence collected will be analysed and used to further investigate the network.