Special investigations officers of the Border Police have identified and distructured a trafficking network which aimed migrant recruitment, guidance and transportation of persons of Afghan citizenship from their country of origin in the European Union, transiting the territory of Ukraine and Moldova. From each of the migrant in part by the network members were charged the taxes of 5000 Euro receipts for a mature and 2500 Euro for a minor. During 2013 – 2014, they organized the illegal crossing of the state border for three families of Afghan origin.

In early August 2013, a group of 12 citizens of Afghanistan, consisting of two families, guided by the members of the group have illegally crossed the border from Ukraine to Moldova. After a few hours, the Afghans continued their way by crossing the Moldovan- Romanian border, across the localities Drepcăuţi ( MDA ) - Cuzlău (RO), swimming the river Prut. Both illegal border crossings were facilitated by a former border guard who knew this segment of the border. Following the operational exchange of information with colleagues from Romania, the group was apprehended and according to the legal procedures, the migrants were handed to Moldovan Border authority, but once they arrived the country, the Afghans applied for asylum.

As a result of the apprehension, the Border Police officers began probing actions for the entire criminal activity and attraction to the liability of the persons involved. Meanwhile, during the examination of the application regarding the protection provision on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, one of the families retained, consisting of six persons, who were assisted by members of the criminal group, on 3rd of November 2013 managed to run away from the Placement Center and illegal entered the territory of Ukraine via the green sector, in the proximity of Saiti village, Stefan Voda.

From the preliminary investigations, it was established that the illegal border crossings by the Afghans were provided by a well-organized criminal group, with precisely defined responsibilities. The organizer had the coordinating role of the group activity and identified the potential migrants, the accomplices assured taking and transporting of the migrants in Ukraine and Moldova, and then the guides carried out the illegal crossing of the migrants across the state border.

However, in the context of the undertaken measures and the obtaining of the information that the group continues unhindered to carry out its criminal activities, on 25 February 2014, on the green border sector was detained a member of the group, a minor from Căuşeni, immediately after he guided another Afghan family ( 2 adults and 3 children) at the illegal crossing of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border illegally through Saiti. The monitoring of their actions led to the apprehension of the second member of the group, who provided transportation for the migrants in Ukraine, then crossing the border via Saiti, had to take the Afghan family and to transport it across the country to the border with Romania.

During the movement of the Afghan migrants group, the organizer keeps in touch with members of the group through various communication channels. The application of the criminal analysis and nature of the network connections, as well as the statements of the Afghan migrants have helped to expose all members of the criminal organization. In its composition being identified and documented 9 Moldovans aged between 17 and 58, 2 of which criminal record and another minor. 4 of them were involved in organizing and finding potential Afghan migrants, 4 members provided the transportation and one provided guidance. The sums of 5000 Euro for a mature and 2500 Euro for a minor were paid by Afghans to secure the movement in the EU. The money was divided between group members, for example for transiting the Republic of Moldova, an organizer received 400 Euro per person, the money being transferred into bank accounts. .
Currently, an organizer and an accomplice are notified in search, their guilt being proved, another organizer of the illegal migration is arrested and on the name of other were issued mandates of accusation. According to Art. 362, paragraph 3, of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova, the organization of the illegal migration by an organized criminal group shall be punished by a fine of 800 to 1.000 c.u. or with imprisonment for 5-7 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to practice certain activities for a term of 3-5 years.

Note: Illegal migration is convenient alternative for persons who for various reasons can not use the legal way to go abroad. This scourge has become increasingly larger and more unmanageable due to criminal networks and ingenuity of criminals, who use the increased demand of citizens of third countries with high migration risk. In order to prevent its effects, the Border Police continue constantly to take firm action in all areas of competence, by focusing patrols in vulnerable areas of the border, increasing internal collaboration, including strengthening the actions with the representatives of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum in detection among asylum seekers the potential illegal migrants, with their subsequent expulsion from the country, as well as effective and efficient exchange of data and information with the border institutions of Romania and Ukraine.