Dozens of migrants came to Romania to reach other Western European countries illegally. The group that organized everything, destructured after a collaboration between Italy and Romania

A group consisting of more than 20 people, which operated in Romania, Italy and Austria, recruited people of Asian (especially Pakistani) and African origin, brought them to Romania through different companies they owned and then helped them cross the border illegally, to reach Western European countries, especially Italy.

“The criminal network requested a total of 509 work permits from Romania and obtained permits for 102 migrants (…). The results of the investigations suggest that 76 migrants who arrived in Romania using these fraudulent documents then made secondary movements in other EU countries”, according to the police research.

The group was dismantled following a collaboration between the Romanian and Italian police. On Wednesday, April 24, the police made 21 searches in this case: in Brasov, Timiș, Teleorman, Ilfov and Bucharest. Six raids took place in Italy and another two in Austria.

“From the research carried out, it emerged that, starting from 2021 and until now, more than 20 people (Romanian citizens and foreigners), organized in a criminal structure on hierarchical levels, would have acted on the territory of Romania, Italy and Austria, directly or through legal entities, in which they have the capacity of administrator, in order to commit the crime of migrant trafficking”, the Police representatives sent.

Through the companies they had, they recruited Asian citizens, mostly from Pakistan, but also African citizens, promising them a job.

“Subsequently, some of the investigated persons, under the coordination and at the direction of the leader, would submit applications for the issuance of work permits to various county immigration services from the country, and, after obtaining the documents and completing the formalities, other members would picked up the migrants from the airport, would have accommodated them in different locations in Bucharest, after which they would have transferred them to the area of ​​the municipality of Timisoara”, the press release states.

How much did a migrant pay to reach Western Europe

From Timișoara, the arrested persons were helped to cross the border of Romania illegally, on foot or hidden in different cars, to reach Western European countries, especially Italy.

“The investigated persons would have collected sums between 5,000 and 10,000 euros from each migrant, and those who could not pay, would have been forced to perform unpaid work for a year, in Italy, for the benefit of one of members of the criminal group. During the investigations carried out in the case, more than 10 migrant transports were detected and stopped”, the police informs.

“From the locations where the home searches were carried out, 71,005 USD, 68,730 euros, 4,820 pounds sterling, 26,900 lei and 3,050 Swedish crowns were discovered and seized, as well as several documents,” the statement added. of press. On Wednesday, more than 20 people were taken to hearings at the DIICOT Brașov headquarters.