An international scheme specialized in trafficking in human beings, organization of illegal migration, falsification of official documents and money laundering was disbanded by the law enforcement agencies of France, Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Thirty Moldovans featured in the case are suspected of falsifying documents. Half of them were charged, while the rest are those who made the documents, intermediaries and those who benefitted from documents. The latter are absolved if they cooperate with the investigation, IPN reports.

In a news conference, Sergiu Russu, division head at the Prosecutor General’s Office, said the criminal case in the Republic of Moldova was started based on information furnished by counterparts from France. About 200 Moldovans became victims of human trafficking, being forced to work at building sites in France. The group was led by a Romanian who led a luxury life by exploiting the Moldovans and paying them paltry amounts.

The police in Moldova were to identify the persons dealing with the falsification of documents and with the recruitment and transportation of persons to work. The investigation has lasted for about a year. Searches were carried out on June 7 and one of the cells that falsified Romanian identification papers on Moldova’s territory was annihilated.

The criminal scheme involved employees of the Customs Service and of the General Police Inspectorate.

Lots of land, buildings and luxury cars to the value of about 25 million lei have been confiscated so far. It was estimated that the suspects from the Republic of Moldova illegally gained 20 million lei after falsifying about 10,000 documents, including indemnity cards, passports, diplomas of study, driver’s licenses etc.

In France, there were arrested 14 suspects, including Moldovans. The group’s ill-gotten gains were estimated at €12 million.