In a high-profile case centered on a wine theft at the Atrio restaurant, authorities point to Russian-linked suspects. The incident involved the theft of 45 bottles valued at 1,648,500 euros, with investigators highlighting Russian citizens as the primary focus. The suspects identified are Constantine Gabriel Dimitru and his partner, Lara Priscilla Guevara, who are believed to have planned a large-scale sale of the spoils. The case has been pursued by investigators following a detailed inquiry by Prensa Ibérica and CASO ABIERTO.
Both Dimitru and Guevara remain in custody as the trial approaches. The prosecutor has requested four and a half years of imprisonment on charges of stealing 45 bottles on 26 October 2021 from the Atrio de Cáceres hotel restaurant, a facility associated with a three-Michelin-star status.
Escape through Europe
The theft was captured on surveillance cameras, and after the incident the couple left Spain, moving through several European countries. They were detained near the Montenegro-Croatia border on 18 July after traversing France, Romania, and Germany. By that time they carried no bottles or substantial cash.
The mystery of the Chateau d’Yquem bottle
Police investigators noted that Dimitru did not sell the prized €310,000 bottle of Chateau d’Yquem, a detail he reportedly kept as a personal retirement plan after release from jail. Dimitru and Guevara, who have been returned to Spain and held at the Badajoz prison, have declined to disclose the locations of the wine. National Police units continue to follow several leads, including a recent tip from the wine industry that points toward a possible gathering place for buyers among a circle of wealthy Russian clients linked to the escape route. There is growing suspicion that the operation involved an organized network, or at least premeditated contacts for buyers before the theft.
It has been noted that a substantial portion of the wine involved in the trust is Romanee Conti, a Burgundy red valued at around 12,000 euros per bottle and associated with the restaurant where the theft occurred.
your favorite wine
Dimitru has recently received a sentence of one year in prison for a separate theft involving a Balvenie whiskey bottle from a Madrid luxury department store. He is also accused of acquiring two bottles of French wine from a shop in Madrid’s Salamanca district, with another case pending for the purchase of three Romanee Conti bottles. A separate matter involves a purchase of three Romanee Conti bottles at Geneva airport duty-free in October 2020.
Industry sources described a market where Romanee Conti circulates in Europe, noting its rarity and the fact that only a limited number of bottles are produced each year, making each bottle highly sought after and quickly traded when found in the wrong hands.
money trail
With the thieves apprehended, authorities are now tracing the proceeds as well as the wine. There is no record of property purchases or vehicles linked to Dimitru or Guevara during their escape. One of the suspects reportedly carried a new phone with limited data about prior movements when arrested in Croatia. Ongoing inquiries also include a paternity investigation in Mexico related to Guevara, which has yet to yield results.
royal jewel
The lead tied to Russian sources complicates the theory that the wine was moved solely for private sale during the escape. The prized sweet wine, Chateau d’Yquem from Bordeaux dating back to 1806 and valued at around 310,000 euros, remains a focal point. If the suspects are released, there is speculation they could keep this exceptional bottle as a form of retirement for themselves and a future supporter. During the escape across Europe, Dimitru reportedly faced distressing family news connected to his daughter, a tragedy that shadowed his movements and influenced subsequent flight patterns before authorities intervened again.