Law enforcement dismantled human trafficking scheme

Chisinau, 25 June /MOLDPRES/- The Center for Combating Human Trafficking of the National Investigation Inspectorate (INI) of the General Inspectorate of Police (IGP) and the General Prosecutor's Office presented at a press conference today details on the dismantling of a criminal organization specializing in trafficking in human beings, the organization illegal migration, forgery of official documents, money laundering, etc.

"This operation was carried out in three countries - France, Romania and the Republic of Moldova. We had a joint investigation team, coordinated by colleagues from Europol and Eurojust. The active phase of the operation took place in February this year, but the actions on this criminal case are still ongoing. Thus, on June 7, we dismantled another cell that forged identity documents, especially Romanian ones. The respective criminal case was started in our country based on the information provided by colleagues from Lion (France), with the names of people involved in a scheme of human trafficking, forgery of documents, illegal migration, ghost companies, etc. Also, the French colleagues sent a list of alleged victims, which included over two hundred people ", said Sergiu Rusu, head of department at the General Prosecutor's Office.

Colleagues in France called for an investigation based on the information received, in order to dismantle the entire criminal group operating in the three countries. Thus, the investigations carried out by the law enforcement officers showed that among the accomplices of the criminal organization were also employees of the General Inspectorate of Police and Customs Service.

Also, preliminary, it was established that the criminal group forged over ten thousand documents, driving licenses from the Republic of Moldova, passports, diplomas, certificates, dozens of false stamps were found.

According to INI, 14 people have been detained in France so far. They are citizens of France, Romania, as well as the Republic of Moldova. In our country, 30 people were detained, 14 having the status of accused, and another 16 people had the status of suspects. "Those involved are from Chisinau, Ialoveni, being decision makers, and the printing houses are in Chisinau. The seizure was for 18 million lei, real estate, luxury cars ", according to INI.

If found guilty, those charged with forgery risk up to ten years in prison, and those who trafficked people - up to 20 years in prison.

In this context, Vasile Harea, head of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking of INI, addressed the population, especially citizens who intend to go to work abroad, to document in detail the enterprises, companies and people involved in employment and training documents. The official urged people to go to the Center or to call the police hotline.

photo: INI