The fight against drug trafficking, a priority for Romania’s Interior Ministry
The fight against drug trafficking remains a priority for Romania’s interior ministry, said Minister Cătălin Predoiu on Thursday. He praised operations that lead to the almost weekly seizures of large quantities of drugs, which otherwise risk reaching consumers. Cătălin Predoiu called on interior ministry forces to continue to act in „sensitive areas” – with heavy traffic and consumption, such as the capital, the seaside or major festivals. „Launch new operations, increase the number of operations on sensitive areas, areas where we know there is heavy traffic and consumption: Vama Veche, Mamaia, Bucharest. Unfortunately, all major cities are affected by this scourge, festivals too. I am also sending a message to the public and to those in the public who are concerned that these are opportunities for drug trafficking or drug use: zero tolerance! I know you have had a significant seizure – 1,780 ecstasy tablets and 14 kilograms of psychoactive 2-MMC. In fact, we have serious seizures every week. Our policy is that any seizure, any amount is important to be taken off the market. One kilogram of high-risk drugs can ruin dozens or hundreds of lives. Romania is a consumer country and a transit country. Fortunately, it is not yet a country of production or of large quantities and I ask you to continue this effort so that we do not become such a country”, said Cătălin Predoiu. DIICOT Cluj prosecutors arrested three people on Wednesday for drug trafficking offenses. They have procured, transported, handled and possessed for sale almost 1,800 ecstasy tablets and another 14 kilograms of psychoactive substances, which were to be distributed at the Untold festival, which starts in Cluj-Napoca on Thursday. The event, which runs until Sunday, features big names from the international music scene – such as Lenny Kravitz and Sam Smith – as well as some of Romania’s most popular artists, such as Vama and Irina Rimes.
The famous Romanian training ship „Mircea” returned from its international training cruise
The training ship „Mircea” returned from its 6-week international training tour in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday. Present at the welcoming ceremony in the Military Port of Constanta, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu thanked the Romanian students from the Romanian Naval Academy as well as the foreign students who were on board the sailing ship, as well as the Romanian Naval Forces’ military. „This sailing ship has once again successfully assumed the role of Romania’s ambassador. Looking at this incredible ship, which has been plying the world’s waters for 85 years, I wholeheartedly believe that it is one of the most efficient, elegant and well-prepared ambassadors that our country has had in the last century. It is up to each and every one of you to cherish the „Mircea” training ship as it deserves, to be proud of its extraordinary history and to make full use of its potential, because in this way the Romanian Navy will always have a future that matches the talent and strength of character of those who are part of this elite corps of our Army. I wish you every success,” said Marcel Ciolacu. During the march of over 3400 nautical miles, the symbolic ambassador of Romania on the seas and oceans of the world made representative stopovers in the ports of Piraeus in Greece, Livorno in Italy, Toulon in France, Palermo in Italy and Bodrum in Turkey.
Hospital in Romania under investigation after allegations of aggravated murder
The situation at the ‘Sfântul Pantelimon’ Clinical Emergency Hospital in Bucharest is getting more complicated – the anesthesiology and intensive care doctors have gone on a spontaneous strike and are refusing to administer anesthetic to chronic patients who were scheduled for surgery. Only emergencies and care for patients undergoing therapy are provided. Meanwhile, the Romanian health minister, Alexandru Rafila, is trying to unblock the situation, especially as anesthesiologists are threatening to resign, which would mean a deadlock for the hospital. The medical director of the St. Pantelimon Hospital in the Romanian capital has resigned, and the manager of the medical unit is expected to do the same in Thursday. The Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, explained that the prosecutors’ accusations and the detention of the two doctors for aggravated homicide have created distrust among the population and said that he will try to persuade the hospital’ staff that medical work must continue. „This is an unprecedented situation. We must ensure that medical work at St. Pantelimon Hospital continues. I want to talk to the heads of the wards at St. Pantelimon Hospital, the doctors of the Intensive Care Unit and find a solution together. Public pressure to blame the medical staff in corpore is not a response that we should encourage. Whoever is guilty should pay. I find it absolutely incredible what has happened, if it has happened in this way, because we are, after all, talking about an ongoing criminal investigation at the moment. To me, it seems essential to ensure the hospital’s functionality and to respect the medical staff who are doing their job,” said Alexandru Rafila. Romanian prosecutors opened a criminal case on accusations of aggravated homicide after they received a referral in April from a hospital nurse about the suspicious death of 17 patients between April 4-7 in the ICU ward. She accused doctors of intentionally reducing doses of norepinephrine, a drug used to raise or maintain blood pressure.
Magda Baciu
