Border guards from Moldova and Ukraine have dismantle a criminal group dealing in illegal migration, specifically taking money from Ukrainian men to get them to EU countries.
The fees for the illegal services could reach as high as $10,000 dollars per person. The clients were instructed as to how to illegally cross the border, after which they would be picked up and transported to Chisinau. In the capital, their stay was legalized and later they would be assisted to reach EU countries.
On June 5, two Ukrainian citizens were detained for attempting to cross the border illegally near the Vartikovtsy-Larga area, prompting border guards to investigate and eventually track down one of the gang members, who was on his way to pick up the clients. The detained person turned out to be a 55-year-old known gangster from Râșcani district.
Later, one of the gang leaders was identified: a 62-year-old Râșcani man who is currently under investigation for a similar crime. Placed under house arrest, he coordinated the gang using his phone and social media apps, the Moldovan border police said in a press release.
The suspects have been arrested as the investigation continues.
