Interior Ministry's statistics show no cases of trafficking in children

No cases of taking children out of the country for forced labor, sexual exploitation or trafficking in organs have been reported in Moldova during the last few years, the head of the Interior Ministry's Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons Valeriu Hancu told a news conference on March 16, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to the official, there are situations when one of the parents who settled abroad or the relatives try to take the child out of the country without the consent of the other parent. Twenty-one such cases were recorded last year, as against 18 a year earlier. As to adults, Valeriu Hancu said the number of victims of trafficking in persons has decreased. “No cases of trafficking in organs have been reported in Moldova since 2003 until present. During 2001 - 2003, the employees of the Center discovered five offenses of the kind,” Valeriu Hancu said. Speaking about illegal migration, he said six groups that helped persons go abroad and 12 groups specialized in trafficking in persons and procurement have been identified since the start of this year.