Illegal gun ownership on the rise in Romania
Articol de Radio România Actualităţi, 13 Februarie 2026, 16:27
More and more Romanians are illegally owning guns. Last year, police confiscated over 4.500 rifles and pistols in a major crackdown on illegal gun ownership and poaching.
In Salaj County, law enforcement also discovered and confiscated thousands of cartridges and dozens of illegally owned guns, as well as over 100 tons of toxic or dangerous substances.
Reporter: Adrian Lungu - "Most of the weapons discovered and confiscated by the police officers from Salaj last year were hunting weapons.
Marius Stupar, quaestor, head of the Salaj County Police Inspectorate: A total of 35 weapons were confiscated, up seven from 2024, 11.277 ammunition items related to illegally possessed weapons, and 196.11 kg of toxic or dangerous substances. The police officers from the Weapons, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Bureau found a total of 119 crimes, of which 68 were related to the commission of the crime of operating with pyrotechnic articles without a license, 34 were related to the observance of the weapons and ammunition regime, and 17 were acts of poaching.
Law enforcement officers announced the intensification of missions to discourage the illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.
Marius Stupar, quaestor, head of the Salaj County Police Inspectorate: The aim is to strengthen institutional capacities to monitor and anticipate risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may lead to serious disruption of public order, as well as to counteract serious forms of crime.
The missions will take place both in the city and in the countryside, especially in vulnerable areas, where the incidence of crime has increased.”
Translated by: Radu Matei
