DIICOT conducted searches in several counties, targeting a criminal group specialized in smuggling cigarettes and drug trafficking.

DIICOT prosecutors, together with the police officers of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, conducted 26 searches on Tuesday in the counties of Dolj, Vâlcea, Mehedinți, Caraș-Severin, Bihor, and Bacău, in a criminal case targeting the establishment of an organized criminal group for smuggling and international drug trafficking. Starting in April 2024, four suspects and others, including from Serbia, formed a well-organized network for the sale of smuggled cigarettes.

They identified suppliers from Serbia, provided logistics and transport for the delivery of the cigarettes. To date, over 3,000,000 cigarettes have been confiscated. Additionally, the group expanded its activities in Finland, where they sold alprazolam tablets, a controlled substance. Finnish authorities identified and confiscated 149,700 tablets introduced by the network. Hearings will take place at the DIICOT headquarters.