Three Comrat residents under investigation for orchestrating migrant trafficking to the EU
Moldovan prosecutors have dismantled a sophisticated human smuggling network operating out of Comrat, Gagauzia. Three men, aged 30, 33, and 35, are currently under investigation for illegally transporting migrants from Asia and Africa into several European Union member states.
The suspects allegedly leveraged social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and Telegram, to recruit drivers under the pretext of legitimate employment within the EU. In reality, these drivers were tasked with picking up migrants at the Union’s southeastern frontiers.
The criminal group paid drivers €1,000 (approx. 19,550 MDL) per person to transport individuals into Hungary, Croatia, Poland, Lithuania, and Austria. This operation highlights the increasing use of digital platforms by organized crime to facilitate illegal border crossings.
Technical details and legal status
During coordinated raids, officers from the PCCOCS (Prosecution Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases) seized computer equipment, communication devices, and large sums of cash. They also discovered forged contracts intended to launder the illicit proceeds.
One suspect, who used the professional cover of a "choreographer," has been placed under preventive detention for 30 days. Another remains under investigation while at liberty, and a third suspect is currently a fugitive, sought by both Moldovan authorities and Europol. The investigation continues in close cooperation with European law enforcement agencies to identify all international accomplices.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
