A man got back from DIICOT the cannabis confiscated in 2024, but the gendarmes confiscated it from him again after approximately an hour

A man once again ended up without the 25 grams of cannabis that DIICOT had returned to him pursuant to a final court ruling. Approximately one hour after recovering the substance, he was stopped by gendarmes in Bucharest, and the cannabis was confiscated again. A new criminal case was opened against him.

The case began in July 2024, when Giancarlo Cristea and his wife, Romanians settled in the United Kingdom, were stopped at Otopeni Airport. The two had 25 grams of cannabis, for which they presented medical prescriptions and documents indicating that it had been purchased from a pharmacy for medicinal use.

DIICOT subsequently closed the case, determining that the act had not been committed with the form of culpability required by law, but requested the confiscation of the cannabis. The Bucharest Tribunal rejected the request in October 2025, and the Bucharest Court of Appeal upheld the decision. The courts stated that bringing cannabis into Romania may be legal under certain conditions, when supporting medical documents exist.

On Monday, October 19, prosecutors returned the 25 grams to Cristea. Shortly afterward, the man, who was in a taxi together with his lawyers, was stopped by gendarmes. They invoked Law No. 143/2000 and confiscated the substance again. They were on their way to a hearing in another case.

According to lawyer Sebastian Nagy, quoted by Clujust.ro, a new criminal case was opened against the man approximately one hour after he had recovered the cannabis from DIICOT, pursuant to a final court ruling.