A man was arrested, while another one is investigated outside prison for illegally using the networks of national fixed-line and mobile phone operators. The losses caused to the companies are very great. According to the General Police Inspectorate, the two suspects form part of a transnational criminal group that includes citizens of Moldova, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United States, IPN reports.

According to the police, the members of the group in the course of this year planned and implemented in Moldova a scheme to steal international communication traffic intended for Moldovan subscribers. These used prepaid cards of national mobile phone carriers to illegally redirect international traffic to mobile phone users in Moldova without these paying for the relevant services.

As a result of searches, there were found and seized special equipment and accessories for using telecommunications networks and redirecting international IPN voice traffic as well as personal records of group members concerning stolen traffic and earned revenues.

The suspects face a fine of 67,500 to 167,500 lei or up to five years in jail.