Romanian police raid homes of catering staff suspected of €800,000 theft from aircraft at Otopeni
Police executed 12 search warrants and 16 summonses in Bucharest, Ilfov, and Prahova on Thursday, targeting employees of a catering firm accused of stealing luxury goods and cash from in-flight sales over more than three years.
The investigation
Romanian transport police launched a large-scale operation on the morning of 30 July 2026, targeting a network of thieves operating inside aircraft arriving at Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni. Under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Buftea Court, officers executed 12 residential search warrants and 16 summonses across Bucharest and the counties of Ilfov and Prahova. The raids involved officers from the Bucharest Regional Transport Police, the "Henri Coandă" Air Transport Police Service, and special action teams from the Bucharest General Police Directorate and the Ilfov and Prahova county police inspectorates. Gendarmerie units from Ilfov and Prahova also took part.
Investigations are being carried out regarding the criminal activity of 16 persons, employees of a commercial company and their accomplices, who, between April 2023 and the present, allegedly stole various catering and boutique products (perfumes, watches, food, accessories, personalised products and other goods), sold during flights operated by an airline, as well as the proceeds from their sale.
The modus operandi
According to investigators, the suspects exploited their service duties within a catering company that serviced the aircraft. Their access to the interior of the planes and to the administration of valuables and goods intended for passengers or crew allowed them to systematically remove luxury items and cash. The stolen goods included perfumes, watches, food, accessories, and personalised products, all of which were part of the in-flight boutique and catering offer. The suspects also pocketed the cash payments made by passengers for these items.
The criminal activity is believed to have run from April 2023 until the present day, a period of more than three years. The total loss is estimated at approximately €800,000. The offences under investigation are aggravated theft in continuous form and complicity to aggravated theft.
The raids and next steps
The 12 search warrants were carried out simultaneously at residential addresses in Bucharest and the neighbouring counties of Ilfov and Prahova. The 16 individuals named in the summonses are to be taken to the headquarters of the Bucharest Regional Transport Police for questioning. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any arrests have been made or whether stolen goods have been recovered during the searches.
We note that throughout the criminal proceedings, the investigated persons benefit from the rights and procedural guarantees provided by the Criminal Procedure Code and the presumption of innocence.
Investigators continue to work on recovering the full amount of the loss and on establishing the complete criminal activity of all those involved. The airline affected has not been named in the official statements.
