Two Romanians and two Ukrainians were arrested in Cahul town on suspicion that they recruited Moldovan young women and exploited them sexually in Romania and Italy. The police identified at least five victims, IPN.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, the suspects are aged between 22 and 38. The group was headed by two Romanian citizens who acted in southern Moldova, in concert with the two Ukrainians. These are suspected of recruiting girls aged 20-25 from socially deprived families or who were subject to domestic violence.

The suspects promised the young women decent jobs in Romania and a salary of €700, but then forced them to provide sex for money in Romania and Italy. They face up to 15 years in jail for trafficking in human beings.