Romanian mafia
| Founding location | Romania |
|---|---|
| Territory | Romania, Australia, Northern Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, USA, Canada, France, Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia |
| Ethnicity | Majority Romanians, Aromanians and some Roma people |
| Criminal activities | Human trafficking, illegal drug trade (outside Romania, in Northern Italy and Spain), prostitution, contraband cigarettes, Identity documents forergy, car trafficking, extortion, cyber crime, property crime, racketeering, automated banking machine frauds, usury |
| Allies | Italian Mafia Serbian mafia Russian mafia Satudarah Bandidos |
The Romanian mafia is a term used for organized criminal groups based in Romania.
They have expanded their criminal activities in the European Union, reads an Europol report on EU organized crime, being active mostly in Northern Italy and Spain. They participate in a wide range of criminal activities ranging from prostitution and extortion to drug trade, also document forgery and property crime (such as distraction robberies and pickpocketing).[1]
Recently, it was reported that some Romanian nationals specialize in ATM skimming in Australia.[2] According to the Queensland Police, the country's history partly explains this criminal specialization: "Romania was prior to the fall of the Ceaușescu dictatorship, a centre of mathematics and computer coding and those skills were exploited by Eastern Bloc organized crime groups.".[3]
Notable clans
In Romania there are some clans consisted of people part of the Romani minority, called gypsy clans (in Romanian clanuri ţigăneşti)[4][5] that are active in a wide range of criminal activities. Some of them have expanded their operations.
Powerful clans are:
- The Duduieni, Caran and Gigi Corsicanu clan in Bucharest is allegedly involved in prostitution, usury, store and home robberies, illegal drug trade.[6]
- The Ghenosu clan in Dâmbovița County seems to have ties with the Corduneanu clan and with that of the Cămătaru brothers and is allegedly involved in drug trade, pimping and racketeering.[6] Ghenosu (Florin Ghinea) has been arrested for computer crime and blackmail, and is currently serving a 9-year sentence.[7] Cămătaru brothers are currently serving sentences too (Nuţu 6-year sentence, Sile 13-year sentence).[8]
- The Rohozeanu clan in Arad is the most organized in Western Romania, and already has under his belt a conflict with Claudiu Baderca's clan from Timișoara.[6] In 2009, they were arrested by the authorities. Uţu Rohozneanu is currently serving a 8-year sentence.[9] Claudiu Baderca a 7-year.[10]
- The Vasile clan in Vrancea County specializes in illegal sales of cigarettes (contraband), usury and car trafficking. In the same county, the group led by Costică Argint specializes in racketeering in Romania and in Italy alike.[6] Costică Argint has been arrested in Tivoli, Lazio in 2010.[11]
- The Feraru clan from Buzău controlled by Feraru was the one which had a prostitution network in Spain; the leader of the group, Costel Feraru, is currently serving a 6-year sentence.[6]
References
- ↑ "Southeast Europe Online". Southeasteurope.org. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
- ↑ "Romanian scammers targeting Sydney ATMs". theaustralian.com.au. 15 August 2013.
- ↑ "Why Romanians specialise in ATM skimming". smh.com.au. 15 December 2011.
- ↑ "Clanurile Capitalei: Sectorul 2, controlat de familiile de ţigani" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 18 February 2010.
- ↑ "How Gypsy gangs use child thieves". BBC News. 2 September 2009.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "The National gangster network by BURSA". Bursa. 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
- ↑ "Ghenosu, condamnat la 9 ani de inchisoare pentru santaj si infractiuni informatice" (in Romanian). hotnews.ro. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ↑ "Nutu si Sile Camataru, condamnati la 6, respectiv 13 ani de inchisoare. Sentinta este definitiva" (in Romanian). Pro TV. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ↑ "Gruparea condusă de „Împăratul“ Uţu Rohozneanu, condamnată la inchisoare" (in Romanian). actualitati-arad.ro. 12 April 2010.
- ↑ "Omologul interlop al lui Uțu Rohozneanu - condamnat la 7 ani de pușcărie" (in Romanian). vestic.ro. 20 April 2010.
- ↑ "Costica Argint, urmarit international de ani buni, arestat in Tivoli" (in Romanian). Pro TV. Retrieved 14 February 2014.