Three Moldovans accused of illegal border crossing scheme involving €4,500
Three members of an organized crime group were charged with orchestrating the illegal migration of foreign citizens into the European Union. They promised citizens of Tajikistan that they would help them cross the border in exchange for 4,500 euros. The plan was thwarted when one of the migrants was apprehended by Romanian authorities immediately after swimming across the Prut.
According to the Balti Prosecutor's Office, three men aged between 30 and 39 are accused of engaging in human trafficking between January and February of this year.
One of the accused was responsible for identifying migrants, negotiating fees, organizing transportation along the Chisinau-Balti route, and coordinating the illegal crossing. The second individual established logistical arrangements, collected financial advances, and facilitated communication between clients and other group members. The third defendant received the migrants in Balti municipality, provided them with accommodation, managed their documents, and subsequently guided them to the border area.
For their services, the traffickers charged 1,500 euros per person. They initially collected a total of 4,500 euros, which included an advance payment of 1,500 euros, followed by other instalments for transportation costs amounting to 900 euros, 100 dollars, and 30,000 lei.
The operation was disrupted on February 14 when a migrant from Tajikistan was taken to the border and illegally crossed into Romania by swimming across the Prut. He was quickly detected and detained by Romanian authorities and was later returned to the Republic of Moldova.
Prosecutors have stated that two of the defendants fully admitted their guilt, while the third admitted guilt only in part.
If the court finds them guilty of organizing illegal migration, each man could face up to 12 years in prison, fines of up to 400,000 lei, and a ban on holding certain positions for up to five years.
State prosecutors said that investigations into other members of the criminal group are ongoing.
