With the active support of Eurojust, the Romanian and French authorities have taken action against pimping and human trafficking by family related Romanian perpetrators. Following the setting up of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) via Eurojust, an action day was organised, which led to the arrest of tensuspects, seven in Romania and three in France. Two suspects will be subjected to a European Arrest Warrant. Five venues in Romania were searched, where weapons were found. In addition, real estate and vehicles were also seized.
Eurojust actively supported the investigations of the authorities in both countries by continuously facilitating the judicial cooperation, while also setting up an appropriate framework for the JIT and funding it with over EUR 18,000. Prior to the action day, three coordination meetings were organised by Eurojust to synchronise investigations. Support in judicial matters was given to the national authorities by the Romanian and French Desks at the Agency.
The perpetrators targeted young Romanian females from underprivileged families in rural areas and obliged them to practice prostitution, in the Constanta region of Romania and in the Paris Metropolitan area. Their female victims were accommodated in rented apartments and their activities were advertised via dedicated escort sites.
The suspects are alleged to have facilitated and monitored the pimping activities, while two of the arrested persons were also supposed to have been involved in prostitution themselves, as well as organising and supervising the activities. The proceeds of the crime were sent to Romania, where they were used to purchase real estate and luxury cars.
The investigations were conducted jointly by the Prosecutor’s Office attached to Constanța Local Court and Rural Police 2 Mihail Kogălniceanu in Romania and the Tribunal Judiciaire of Bobigny and the Office Central pour la Répression de la Traite des Etres Humains in France.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union