Editing Secția Roșie (section)

== Formation and expansion ==
On 17 March 1967, Vlădescu attacked a Brașov Bandits weapons depot outside [[Băicoi]] with [[Sandu Ionuț]] and [[Erich Mußfeldt]]. Twenty-year-old [[Sorin Ionuț]] drove their vehicle. The operation killed eleven Bandits during the attack and pursuit. The attackers seized firearms before Mußfeldt burned the depot. Dirlewanger responded by placing Vlădescu in permanent command of a newly established independent unit. Sandu became deputy commander, and Sorin remained its driver. Mußfeldt returned to [[Hermann Florstedt]]. [[Lucian Vulturescu]] replaced him as the unit's breaching and demolition specialist several months later.

Secția Roșie established its first permanent headquarters in a converted Vlădescu meat warehouse in [[Obor]]. The unit had eight members by the end of 1968. Vlădescu recruited violent criminals and former soldiers, while Sandu supervised their training. Each candidate was required to complete an armed assignment without assistance. Sorin became chief driver and vehicle coordinator as the unit expanded.

The unit attacked a Brașov Bandits safe house in [[Sinaia]] in 1968 and captured adult prisoners. In 1969, it ambushed a weapons convoy near [[Ploiești]], killing the eight-person escort and seizing its vehicles. A 1972 attack on a Bandit-controlled restaurant in [[Codlea]] killed organization members and civilians. Secția Roșie also captured prisoners for Vlădescu's experiments and taxidermy work. Senior Bucharest Butchers leaders later authorized transfers to his villa outside Sinaia.

Central Bucharest Butchers funds paid for the unit's operations. It also retained assets seized from rival organizations. By December 1986, Secția Roșie had 36 members. Police records obtained that month revealed the remaining Brașov Bandits properties and allowed Vlădescu to prepare the final campaign against them.