Fourteen detained in cross-border migrant smuggling case
Moldovan and Romanian border authorities have dismantled a cross-border migrant smuggling network operating along the Moldova-Romania border, detaining 14 people, including suspected facilitators and foreign nationals attempting to enter the European Union illegally.
According to Moldova's Border Police, officers spotted two vehicles near the village of Cuhnești in Glodeni district during the night of May 20–21. Several individuals carrying large bags were seen leaving the vehicles and acting suspiciously near the border area.
When intervention teams approached, the group attempted to flee into dense vegetation. Border police issued warnings and fired warning shots before successfully detaining those involved.
Authorities in Moldova detained eight men aged between 25 and 40, including three citizens of Nepal and five citizens of Sri Lanka. Two Moldovan nationals, aged 26 and 29, were also detained on suspicion of facilitating the operation and transporting migrants to the border zone.
Based on information exchanged between the two countries, Romanian authorities simultaneously intervened on the right bank of the Prut River, where they discovered four additional foreign nationals and an inflatable boat allegedly used for the illegal crossing.
Preliminary findings indicate that two Sri Lankan nationals had already crossed illegally into Romania, while a Pakistani citizen and an Afghan citizen were allegedly preparing to receive and transport migrants onward into Western European countries.
Investigators established that each migrant was expected to pay between €4,000 (approx. 78,000 MDL) and €4,500 (approx. 88,000 MDL) for arranging the illegal border crossing and onward travel into the European Union.
The criminal investigation is being coordinated by the Glodeni Office of the Bălți Municipal Prosecutor's Office. The two Moldovan suspects were initially detained for 72 hours before a court ordered their pre-trial detention for 30 days at the prosecutor's request.
During searches and special investigative measures, authorities seized the suspects' mobile phones and impounded one of the vehicles allegedly used to transport migrants.
The suspects are being investigated for organising illegal migration. If convicted, they face prison sentences ranging from five to 12 years, fines of between 300,000 and 400,000 Moldovan lei, and a ban on holding certain positions or carrying out specific professional activities for a period of three to five years.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify all members of the criminal network and establish the full circumstances of the case.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
