The Operation „April-2006” revealed several smuggling channels at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border

The operation “April 2006” performed in two stages at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border disclosed several smuggling channels of some criminal groups that pass through the frontier different goods, inclusively drugs. The operation took place during April 4-14 and April 20-30, 2006, and was performed by the employees of the Customs Service and the EU border assistance mission. According to the head of the Press Service of the Customs Service, Ion Magu, within the operation were traced impressive contraband batches, as 11.3 kg of drugs, 52 tones of fowl, 63 tones of vegetable, 2555 liters of alcoholic drinks, a car stolen from Italy and other goods. 322 persons that were trying to pass illegally the frontier, 876 persons that had interdiction to pass the frontier, inclusively 137 illegal migrants and 20 persons expelled from Ukraine were arrested. At the “April-2006” operation the troops of border guard, Customs Service, the internal security bodies and the fiscal structures of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine participated. On the whole, in the operative action 60 persons divided in 10 mobile teams from both sides were involved. The EU border assistance mission to Moldova and Ukraine recommended performing in the future similar operations considering the present one efficient.