Romania uncovers migrant trafficking ring using Schengen access

5 months ago 15

Romanian authorities carried out searches in several counties on Tuesday after identifying a new method of migrant trafficking that involves migrants entering Schengen countries via Romania, despite migrant trafficking being the main reason why Austria blocked Romania’s access to Schengen last year.

On Tuesday, prosecutors from the Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) executed a series of 67 search warrants in the counties of Caras-Severin, Timiș, Arad, Bihor, Argeș, Sibiu and Bucharest City in a criminal case concerning the formation of an organised criminal group, trafficking in human beings, fraudulent crossing of the Romanian state border, facilitating illegal residence in Romania and money laundering.

DIICOT operations have been coordinated with prosecutors from the Romanian Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA).

In 2022, a new method of operation focused on the trafficking of migrants entering Romania on work visas but intending to transit to Schengen countries emerged, according to DIICOT. This scheme involved a former Interior Ministry employee who initiated an organised criminal group through seven commercial companies.

Other commercial companies, including one controlled by a retired colonel, collaborated to recruit workers from abroad for personal gain.

Between 2022 and June 2024, the criminal group, consisting of more than 37 suspects, Romanian and foreign citizens, and operating through 31 commercial companies in Caraș-Severin, Timiș and Arad, trafficked migrants in Romania.

According to DIICOT, the group also involved current Interior Ministry employees participating in its illegal activities.

The criminal group illegally obtained work permits for 1,181 foreign nationals, mainly from Pakistan and Bangladesh (over 80%) but also from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Sudan. These individuals were often redirected to economically developed European countries without further contact with the recruiting company. The group also helped foreign nationals overstay their visas through corrupt practices with immigration officials.

The investigations revealed that migrants paid between €500 and €1,000 for work permits, with costs increasing if faster processing was required, potentially reaching €5,000 to €6,000 per person.

The case is thorny in the context of Romania’s Schengen aspirations and Austria’s previous opposition over migrant concerns. Austria cited the transit of migrants through Romania and Bulgaria to other EU states as the basis for its objection last year.

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)