Officers with Romania's organized crime unit DIICOT have arrested six people of drug trafficking charges in Pitesti. The group were caught in possession of 25 kg of 80 percent pure heroin and were reportedly transporting it overland from Turkey to Germany.

Among the six traffickers were Romanian and Albanian citizens, however, local media reports do not give the names of those involved. A value of EUR 500,000 was given for the seizure of heroin, however, the average street price of heroin in the destination country Germany would give a figure of some EUR 900,000 for eventual value in sales, according to figures from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

“Members of the group had organized the purchase of 25 kilograms of heroin and were transporting the drug by the high risk land route from Turkey via Romania to Germany,” said DIICOT officers in a statement. The police claim to have dismantled a regular smuggling operation via the arrests.

The case reminds of other recent drug busts in Romania in which heroin was also being transported to Germany via Romania. As before, there was no suggestion that the drugs were destined for sale within Romania.

Heroin is a member of the opiate family of drugs and is extracted from opium poppies. It is a powerful painkiller and produces a euphoric sense well-being, but is also highly addictive. Heroin users usually inject or smoke the drug, but it is sometimes also snorted. As well as the risk from accidental overdose, injecting in particular can spread diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

photo source: emcdda.europa.eu