BUCHAREST, March 25, 2010 (AFP) – Romanian authorities have dismantled an illegal migration ring to the United States, via Hungary and Mexico, after an investigation spanning five years, prosecutors and border police announced Thursday.
The ring, headed by four Romanians, is suspected to have helped 142 people enter the United States, against payments of between 7,000 and 10,000 dollars each.
The suspects allegedly gained more than a million dollars from their illegal activities.
The ring recruited would-be emigrants, mostly people of Roma origin, from western Romania, and sent them to Budapest and thence to Mexico.
The migrants, who were given forged documents, were then advised to cross the US border, by boat or swimming across Rio Grande, and ask for asylum, claiming they were victims of discrimination and persecution in their country of origin.
Several suspects have been arrested in Mexico and the United States, while the ringleaders have been indicted in Romania, the statement said.
Romania busts illegal migration ring to the US
BUCHAREST, March 25, 2010 (AFP) – Romanian authorities have dismantled an illegal migration ring to the United States, via Hungary and Mexico, after an investigation spanning five years, prosecutors and border police announced Thursday.
The ring, headed by four Romanians, is suspected to have helped 142 people enter the United States, against payments of between 7,000 and 10,000 dollars each.
The suspects allegedly gained more than a million dollars from their illegal activities.
The ring recruited would-be emigrants, mostly people of Roma origin, from western Romania, and sent them to Budapest and thence to Mexico.
The migrants, who were given forged documents, were then advised to cross the US border, by boat or swimming across Rio Grande, and ask for asylum, claiming they were victims of discrimination and persecution in their country of origin.
Several suspects have been arrested in Mexico and the United States, while the ringleaders have been indicted in Romania, the statement said.
