The Violent Criminal Groups Service of the Bucharest City Police and prosecutors with the Department for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) are executing 123 search warrants at homes and buildings owned or used by several individuals, as well as headquarters and workplaces of legal entities in the city of Bucharest and 19 Romanian counties, in connection with the crimes of establishing an organised criminal group, extortion, false arrest, beating and other types of physical abuse, destruction and aiding and abetting, told Agerpres.
"In this case, it has been noted that in 2018 an organised criminal group was established nationwide with the intent of committing mainly extortion crimes related to gambling. The members of the group, by applying various forms of extortion on representatives of commercial companies, would have sought to eliminate competition in this field," the Bucharest Police General Directorate (DGPMB) reported on Wednesday.
The operation regards the city of Bucharest and the counties of Prahova, Brasov, Iasi, Suceava, Botosani, Tulcea, Constanta, Cluj, Timis, Vrancea, Buzau, Bihor, Valcea, Dolj, Gorj, Sibiu, Bacau, Mures, and Salaj.
By using similar methods and abuse, they would have prevented certain clients, who were making significant gains, from taking possession of them.
"At the same time, they allegedly banned customers deemed inconvenient to them from returning to the gaming halls, which were controlled by the members of the organised criminal group, and they would allegedly recover from them the damage incurred on property on the premises."
As many as 40 people suspected of being implicated in such criminal activities will be brought to DIICOT - Central Structure for questioning.
The operation is assisted by the Criminal Investigation and the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime with the Romanian Police, as well as the Bucharest Brigade for Combatting Organised, and the criminal investigation services of Bucharest and the counties where the warrants are executed.
Specialist support was provided by the Special Operations Directorate of the Romanian Police and by the Technical and Forensic Bureau of DIICOT.