Romanian police. Photo: Mircea Moira / Shutterstock.com Romanian authorities have launched a major investigation into an alleged theft ring accused of stealing products and cash from commercial aircraft over a period of more than two years.
Police officers from the Transport Police Directorate and the Henri Coandă Air Transport Police Service carried out 12 home searches in Bucharest and the counties of Ilfov and Prahova on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, while also executing 16 arrest warrants as part of the operation.
A video released by Romanian Police showed officers carrying out coordinated searches as part of the operation.
WATCH VIDEO (SOURCE: Politia Romana / YouTube)
According to investigators, the suspects include employees of a commercial company and several alleged accomplices who are believed to have stolen catering and duty-free products sold on board flights operated by an airline, which was not named, between April 2023 and the present.
The allegedly stolen items include perfumes, watches, food products, accessories, personalized merchandise, and other onboard retail goods. Authorities claim that, in addition to taking products, the suspects also appropriated proceeds generated from inflight sales.
The estimated financial damage caused by the scheme is approximately €800,000.
Those targeted by the investigation are expected to be questioned at the headquarters of the Bucharest Regional Transport Police Directorate as prosecutors continue to examine the case under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office.
Romanian Police said the investigation remains ongoing and emphasized that all individuals involved benefit from the procedural rights and guarantees provided under the Romanian Code of Criminal Procedure, including the presumption of innocence.
The investigation remains active, and further details are expected to emerge following the questioning of the suspects and the examination of evidence collected during the searches.