Drug dealing with underworld connections

A large-scale investigation by the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – the central structure revealed the dark connections of a drug trafficking network in Botoşani, which extended to high circles of the underworld.

At the center of this network is Marian Cristian Bejan, known as the “drug lord”, one of the most feared underworld leaders, notorious for his violence.

The case was brought to light after three individuals, Marian C, Liviu P and Narcis B, were accused of forming an organized criminal group, inciting high-risk and high-risk drug trafficking and drug trafficking. Suspected of having placed drugs in Botoșani municipality, they were supervised by the authorities, and their distribution channels were closely followed.

Hallucinatory story

The story is mind-blowing and shows how easy it is to get into drug distribution networks, especially when large sums of money are involved. In the fall of 2022, to celebrate his birthday with friends, Narcis B., from Botošan, pawned his BMW for 9,000 lei. It’s just that, after a month, when he had to return 11,000 lei, he informed his friends that he didn’t have the required amount of money.

So the friends mobilized, and the debt was paid off by another Botošan resident, leaving the 11,000 lei to be paid to Marian C. Except that the intervention was not on pretty eyes. This is because, in addition to the money he had to pay for the recovery of the car, Narcis B. had to “listen” to those who helped him recover his BMW, being morally constrained to do what the two asked him , that is, to transport drugs to customers.

According to the information obtained from the investigation, the drug trafficking network operated under the command of the first of the suspects, who had considerable connections and influence in the underworld. He was in charge of procuring, preparing and distributing high-risk and high-risk drugs in several localities in the country, considering that his objective was to obtain considerable profits. The network’s modus operandi was complex and well-established. The suspects were involved in the transportation and sale of drugs, taking care to hide their operations to avoid capture by the authorities. Also, to maximize profit, the drugs were diluted with substances such as paracetamol and then sold as “doses” for consumption.

Large-scale investigation launched by DIICOT

Their identification by DIICOT prosecutors started from a large-scale investigation. In fact, the investigators were after an extremely dangerous underworld group, specializing in human trafficking. That’s how we ended up with Marian Cristian Bejan, from Bucharest, nicknamed the “drug lord”, who was allegedly involved in a mafia-type robbery in 2012. According to DIICOT, it is about an attempted murder committed on Bejan’s order, which targeted an Albanian pimp with business in the area of ​​the canton of Ticino.

The Albanian was chased by car, and in a non-trafficked area, his car was cornered and stopped. Later, the man would have been brutally beaten, by Bejan and two accomplices, until he no longer showed signs of life. However, he survived the attack, so the assassination remained only at the level of attempt. Marian Bejan’s people were caught by the Swiss authorities, arrested and sentenced definitively.

43,000 euros found in the criminal’s home

In October 2022, investigators descended on Bejan, who was under house arrest, and found in his home 43,000 euros, diamonds, gold jewelry and several documents, as well as a bag of drugs. In other words, Marian Bejan continued to run his business, especially the apartment in Sector 1. Checking all the connections, the investigators reached the three who were operating in Botoșani.

A disturbing aspect of this illegal business is the connection with the authorities. One of Marian Bejan’s collaborators was Chief Commissioner Robert Badea, who worked within the Organized Crime Brigade (BCCO) Bucharest. Originally hired to fight drug trafficking, he was actively involved in the activities of the network led by Bejan, a fact that underlines the complexity and treachery of this illegal business.

The investigators brought to light only a small part of the entire operation, but it is clear that the drug trafficking network in Botoşani had strong ties to the underworld throughout the country.