Constantin Vlădescu: Difference between revisions
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=== Conflict with the Cluj-Napoca Soulshredders === | === Conflict with the Cluj-Napoca Soulshredders === | ||
After the Brașov Bandits were destroyed, Vlădescu | After the Brașov Bandits were destroyed, Vlădescu identified the [[Cluj-Napoca Soulshredders]] as the last organization capable of challenging nationwide Butchers influence. He spent 1988 mapping their personnel, properties and transport routes. Their leader, [[Grigore Cebotari]], exercised direct personal authority through a ranked hierarchy in which local crews reported upward through appointed commanders. Vlădescu and Cebotari never met face to face before the final assault. | ||
On 14 March 1989, Vlădescu led the first direct attack against a Soulshredders vehicle yard in [[Turda]]. Secția Roșie destroyed the stored vehicles and captured route documents. On 22 April, explosives destroyed ''Casa Someșului'', a Cluj-Napoca restaurant used for collections and meetings. A second front restaurant, ''Hanul Turzii'', was destroyed near Turda on 17 June. [[Lucian Vulturescu]] prepared the charges, while Vlădescu selected the timing and remained at both sites during the attacks. | |||
Dirlewanger suspended further large attacks from 1 July 1989 until the end of 1991 because of the police attention generated by the bombings. During the Romanian Revolution in December 1989, Secția Roșie nevertheless seized weapons and vehicles from unsecured state stores. In May 1990, it obtained a freight warehouse near Cluj-Napoca railway station through a front owner, giving the Bucharest Butchers their first permanent property in Cluj County. | |||
Vlădescu resumed the campaign in 1992. On 16 May, Secția Roșie seized the Soulshredders’ railway-smuggling routes and prevented the organization from receiving further revenue, weapons or supplies through them. Cebotari preserved his command by moving ranked crews between properties and destroying records before they could be captured. | |||
Vlădescu personally directed three later attacks that killed Soulshredders, adult relatives and civilians. On 18 September 1993, Secția Roșie bombed ''Restaurantul Arieș'' in Turda. On 4 November 1994, Vlădescu led an attack on a Soulshredder apartment property in Mănăștur and killed its senior commander himself. On 22 June 1996, he attacked a village wedding in Gilău attended by organization members and their families. | |||
Corrupt municipal records obtained on 12 November 1997 revealed that Cebotari controlled the disused factory in the Iris district through concealed ownership. By 1998, Secția Roșie had 60 members. Vlădescu selected 34 for the final assault. Călin assisted with driving, logistics and reconnaissance during the campaign but did not participate in killings. | |||
=== 1998 Iris factory assault === | === 1998 Iris factory assault === | ||
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Vulturescu, then aged 57, supervised the burning of the factory. The fire destroyed the headquarters and its remaining equipment. The assault eliminated the final organized rival to the Bucharest Butchers and established their criminal influence across Romania without a surviving nationwide challenger. | Vulturescu, then aged 57, supervised the burning of the factory. The fire destroyed the headquarters and its remaining equipment. The assault eliminated the final organized rival to the Bucharest Butchers and established their criminal influence across Romania without a surviving nationwide challenger. | ||
On 1 January 1999, Vlădescu was promoted to Legion Commander because he had built Secția Roșie into the Bucharest Butchers’ strongest independent strike force.<ref name="member-list"/> His conduct remained marked by excessive and unauthorized violence.<ref name="vladescu-late-period"/> | |||
[[Desmond Carter]] regularly delivered firearms from Bucharest Butchers warehouses and depots to Vlădescu's residence while working as a [[Runner (Bucharest Butchers)|Curier]].<ref name="carter-criminal-career"/> | [[Desmond Carter]] regularly delivered firearms from Bucharest Butchers warehouses and depots to Vlădescu's residence while working as a [[Runner (Bucharest Butchers)|Curier]].<ref name="carter-criminal-career"/> | ||
== Legion Commander and later years == | |||
As Legion Commander, Vlădescu enforced Bucharest Butchers authority over regional criminal organizations. His personal command of Secția Roșie and control of the captured regional networks made him a criminal warlord across Romania, although he held no state or military office. Soulshredders properties in Cluj County were absorbed into the Butchers network, while Secția Roșie carried out internal enforcement, targeted killings and suppression of new rivals. | |||
The family meat and cold-storage business expanded into a legitimate-looking distribution company after 1998. Vlădescu continued experiments at the villa outside Sinaia, although they became less frequent as he aged. He began using [[Adrenochrome]] occasionally after 2007 and adopted an hourly schedule in 2020. | |||
After the Bucharest Butchers took direct control of [[Snubable Enterprise]] in 2007, Vlădescu assigned Secția Roșie members to protect its facilities and transport routes. On 27 August 2007, he met [[Richard Rambam]] at the factory complex between Balotești and Moara Vlăsiei. They agreed that rotating Secția Roșie detachments would guard the perimeter, escort sensitive deliveries and respond to attempted inspections. Snubable remained under Bucharest Butchers authority rather than becoming part of Vlădescu’s personal command. | |||
Vlădescu supported [[Andrei Ionuț]] during Dirlewanger’s retirement in 2012 in exchange for continued Secția Roșie autonomy. His relationship with Andrei was loyal and friendly. On 8 September 2012, Vlădescu personally carried out his final killing in Bucharest, targeting a breakaway Butchers collector who had diverted regional protection payments. | |||
Vlădescu formally stopped leading ordinary field operations on 12 January 2015. He continued experimenting on prisoners and captives transferred from other Butchers units, gave strategic advice and received reports from higher-ranking regional commanders. Călin served as his personal driver and logistics coordinator without command authority, but Vlădescu was preparing him to become deputy commander of Secția Roșie. | |||
As the Butchers became divided over cooperation with the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], Vlădescu supported neither faction and concentrated on a gradual retirement. After Tanoa collapsed on 30 November 2024, he ordered Secția Roșie to secure older Butchers properties and records. Despite his age, he refused to leave Romania and intended to fight rather than surrender. | |||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
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Vlădescu had a relationship with nurse [[Daniela Pop]] that was driven by sexual obsession rather than emotional intimacy. Their son, [[Călin Vlădescu]], was born during the relationship. In contrast to his treatment of other people, Constantin was affectionate toward Călin and intended him to become his successor. | Vlădescu had a relationship with nurse [[Daniela Pop]] that was driven by sexual obsession rather than emotional intimacy. Their son, [[Călin Vlădescu]], was born during the relationship. In contrast to his treatment of other people, Constantin was affectionate toward Călin and intended him to become his successor. | ||
Daniela left Constantin during the 1980s and lived separately. In 2010, Constantin attempted to contact Adriana, but she refused to see him. | |||
== Ambush and death == | == Ambush and death == | ||
On 18 February 2025, Vlădescu travelled through [[Vlădeni, Brașov|Vlădeni]] in a custom-built ''Sârbu i7 M70 G70''. The vehicle was a modified [[BMW i7]] based on the G70 platform.<ref name="sarbu-bmw"/> | {{Main|2025 Vlădeni ambush}} | ||
On 18 February 2025, Vlădescu left Conacul Mărgineanu for his villa outside Sinaia. He travelled through [[Vlădeni, Brașov|Vlădeni]] in a custom-built ''Sârbu i7 M70 G70''. The unarmoured vehicle was a modified [[BMW i7]] based on the G70 platform.<ref name="sarbu-bmw"/> Călin drove because Constantin trusted only his son for private journeys, while Constantin sat in the rear seat. | |||
Ten adult members of families affected by Vlădescu’s crimes had gathered in the village. At 3:40{{nbsp}}p.m., they opened fire on the moving car from a fixed [[DShK heavy machine gun|DShK]] position and with hunting rifles. They did not establish a roadblock. The gunfire killed Călin immediately in the driver’s seat, and the vehicle rolled to a stop beside the road. | |||
Constantin survived for approximately nine minutes. His gunshot wounds caused blood to obstruct his airway, and he died from asphyxia in the rear seat. Other village residents reported the attack. Romanian police arrived first, followed by members of the [[Fish Collective]]. Investigators established that the attack was collective retaliation by the affected families rather than an operation ordered by the Fish Collective. | |||
After examination, Constantin’s body was cremated without a funeral. His ashes were discarded and no burial site was created. Secția Roșie fragmented without a recognized commander and collapsed with the wider Bucharest Butchers organization in May 2025. | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||