A man was caught red-handed and detained for usury in Sector 4 of Bucharest

A man was caught red-handed and detained by police officers from Bucharest’s Sector 4 on October 16, 2026, on suspicion of loan sharking. He allegedly collected 18,500 lei from a debtor, representing part of the monthly interest requested for a loan.

The investigation began after the injured party filed a complaint on October 5, claiming that, between September 2024 and October 2026, he had allegedly borrowed 36,000 euros from the suspect. According to investigators, an initial monthly interest rate of 10% had allegedly been agreed for this amount.

Police claim that the debtor had repaid approximately 150,000 euros, exclusively in the form of interest, and that the suspect subsequently demanded a further 160,000 euros from him. At the time of the sting operation, the amount requested was allegedly 82,000 lei per month.

Following a personal and vehicle search, police found, in addition to the 18,500 lei, a further 17,800 lei and 100 euros, whose provenance allegedly could not be justified, as well as a blunt object.

The man was detained for 24 hours and is to be brought before magistrates. The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Sector 4 District Court. The suspect benefits from the presumption of innocence.