Club owners in a popular stag-do destination have been accused of spiking tourists’ drinks and stealing their money, leaving victims in a vulnerable state.
Bucharest is the scene of a trial involving two nightclub owners, as well as bartenders, waiters, hostesses, and even a taxi driver, who are all suspected of drugging, robbing, and sometimes even kidnapping unsuspecting party-goers.
Three British holidaymakers, one American and one German were all targeted at two clubs in the Romanian capital.
According to prosecutors, defendants identified tourists in the Old Town before luring them into the clubs.
Here, they were allegedly plied with free booze and private dancers – who encouraged the tourists to keep chugging.
Once at a point of extreme intoxication, the bar employees stole their phones or bank cards before charging them outrageous prices, cops said.
Phones were allegedly unlocked using the facial recognition function and then cash was transferred or payments were made using card machines.
An investigation was launched in March last year after a Brit tourist filed a complaint with Bucharest cops.
He reported that he had been charged an eye-watering £10,000 for a taxi to his Bucharest hotel – when the usual cost would have been £10.
A Brit also said he was illegally charged around £15,000 by employees of a Bucharest club while he was drunk.
A fellow Brit holidaymaker claimed he was robbed of over £10,000 in a similar way – and another reported the theft of £2,000.
Then, at the end of April 2024, the defendants allegedly broke into an apartment where an American tourist was staying.
They stole jewellery, a laptop, an iPad, two mobile phones, a bank card, and a passport, prosecutors said.
Employees of the club allegedly splashed out using his bank card – spending close to £40,000 in just two weeks.
While attempting to recover his belongings, the tourist was allegedly kidnapped by the defendants.
They locked him up for five days in a club in Old Town so they could use his bank card, it is alleged.
The tourist managed to crack open a window and ask for help after the horror ordeal, prosecutors said.
Two individuals facing trial have been charged with illegal deprivation of liberty after allegedly locking up the tourist.
So far, the amount of cash stolen in the spiking spree is estimated to be £70,000.
Prosecutors claim that the defendants preyed on the limited time tourists spend in Romania, typically just a few days, knowing that visitors are reluctant to stay in the country to pursue legal action.
But several tourists filed complaints in the spring of 2024 – and the investigation began.
In the evening of March 15 last year, a waitress from Afrodite Club from Bucharest Old Town made a whopping 13 illegal cash transfers that equated to nearly £15,000 from a Brit tourist, prosecutors said in the indictment file.
The holidaymaker was too drunk to notice the transfers being made, the indictment said, and was apparently distracted by two hostesses who were dancing half-naked around him.
The money was allegedly transferred to several accounts of other employees of the club.
The crimes were committed between November 2023 and May 2024, prosecutors said.
Bucharest Police and prosecutors investigated for several months and in June 2024, the first arrests were made at the two Bucharest clubs and at several residences from the capital of Romania.
The trial will begin at Bucharest Court this spring.
Bucharest attracts huge waves of foreign tourists every year.
In 2024, more than one million holidaymakers visited Bucharest – most of whom came from Germany, Italy, Israel, the US and UK, according to statistics.
Why is Bucharest a stag-do hotspot?
BUCHAREST has been dubbed the best city in Europe for stag and hen parties.
The Romanian capital is renowned for it’s bustling nightlife with over 50 bars, clubs and comedy clubs that are rated over five stars on TripAdvisor.
The Old Town area is particularly popular for those looking to go out due to the affordable prices, various activities available and a reputation for a great atmosphere.
Casinos in the city are incredibly popular too, with 160 which equates to close to 9 per 100,000 residents,
One of the biggest reasons for Bucharest’s stag-do popularity is its affordability.
Compared to other major European cities, Bucharest offers significantly lower prices for food, drinks, and accommodation.
Separate to the nightlife, Bucharest also offers various historical attractions for stags looking to do something in the day.
Tourists can visit landmarks like the Palace of the Parliament and go through beautiful parks like Herăstrău Park.
Day trips to Dracula’s Castle and the medieval city of Brasov are also simple to arrange from the capital.
Other popular activities that stag-dos favour include quad biking, whiskey tastin and paintballing.
