Searches were carried out at the closed prison in Taraclia. Sixteen persons held there are investigated for managing criminal organizations and for taking action that caused disorder in penitentiaries, IPN reports.

“Forming part of the criminal organization “Machena”, they were responsible for collecting funds from national penitentiaries, which totaled about 1 million lei a month, for the purpose of supporting the organization. They are also investigated for organizing games of chance for money in penitentiaries, which were mandatory, for collecting funds for the organization’s goals and also for selling cellphones, alcoholic drinks, drugs and other objects banned in jails,” said the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases.

The prisoners were convicted of murder, blackmail, robbery and theft and were transferred from other prisons as being dangerous.

Searches were earlier conducted in the same case at the penitentiaries in Cricova and Soroca.