In the first five months of 2010, the border
policemen detected 219 persons hidden in different transportation
means, intending to illegally cross the border.
The greatest number of persons detected hidden in the
transportation means is represented by the Moldovan and Afghan
citizens, i.e., 53 and 50 persons, respectively.
The sums paid to the traffickers by the migrants wanting to
illegally reach the Schengen area, amount to an average of 3.000
euro/ person.
From the beginning of the year and until the end of May 2010, the border policemen detected 219 persons intending to illegally cross the border hidden in transportation means.
Most of the foreign citizens detected in an attempt to cross the border hidden in transportation means, are from:
R. Moldova: 53 persons, Afghanistan: 50 persons, Turkey: 31 persons, Pakistan: 23 persons, Somalia: 11 persons, Iraq: 8 persons, India: 6 persons etc.Considering the border sections, the greatest number of the persons attempting to cross illegally the border hidden in vehicles were detected at the border with Hungary - 135 persons (61%), most of the cases were recorded in the competence area of County Inspectorate of Border Police Arad.
As modus operandi, in most of the illegal migration cases it was ascertained that, after the legal entry based on personal documents with valid visas, the migrants try to exit illegally from our country using several methods, the most used method is hiding in transportation means.
The main reasons for using this method is to get to states within the Schengen area in order to join their relatives or to find better paid jobs.
The "favourite" transportation means of migrants are the TIR vehicles (in cabins or in trailers, among transported cargo, etc.), international trains (in the platform of train carriages, under the benches, etc.), vehicles (under the benches, in the trunk, etc.).
The migrants either act on their own - taking advantage of certain favourable circumstances to hide (speed limit on certain sections in the case of international trains or stationing in parking lots specially arranged, gas stations, in the case of TIR vehicle) - or in organized groups, made up of 3 up to 50 persons, requesting the support of facilitators / traffickers, who receive in exchange, great amounts of money.
The average of money amounts paid to the traffickers by migrants wanting to arrive illegally in the Schengen area is 3.000 euro/ person.
Out of the significant cases recorded this year, we mention:
50 Afghans, hidden in a cistern loaded with
vinegar, detected in Arad
On 30.03.2010,
around 16.00, in Border Crossing Point Varsand, Arad County, the
Greek citizen, Georgios C., aged 25, presented himself for exit
border check, driving a freight vehicle registered in Bulgaria.
According to the accompanying documents, the driver was
transporting vinegar made in Greece for an Italian company.
Based on a risk analysis, the border policemen checked the cistern
with the support of special equipment for detecting the heart beats
and the result of the test was positive, fact which aroused
suspicions that in the transportation means might be hidden
persons.
A thorough check of the vehicle was carried out and under the
cistern was discovered a trapdoor which facilitated the access
inside. Also, it was ascertained that the cistern was divided
horizontally into two separate compartments, in the upper half of
the cistern was the freight and the lower one was arranged with
benches, ventilation system and illumination. Within this specially
arranged place, 50 hidden persons, 28 men, 7 women and 15 children
were detected trying to exit illegally Romania.
According to the investigations, it resulted that the persons
involved were Afghan citizens and stated that they chose this
method because they did not hold visa for the Schengen area and
intended to reach Italy in order to find work.
Within the first investigations, the driver of the vehicle stated
that he was not aware of the way in which the persons involved got
into the vehicle.
The border policemen drew up preparatory documents for the
institution of the criminal proceedings for the attempt of illegal
border crossing to the adult Afghans and the driver is investigated
for trafficking in migrants.
Turkish citizens hidden in a trailer of a
freight vehicle, intended to get out of the country
Border
policemen of Arad detected five Turkish citizens, who intended to
illegally exit Romania hidden in a trailer of a freight vehicle
loaded with plastic products.
On 29.01.2010, around 01 a.m., at Varsand Border Crossing Point -
Arad county, the Turkish citizen G. Adnan, aged 46, presented
himself for exit border check driving a freight vehicle registered
in Turkey which transported, according to the documents
accompanying the freight, plastic products, from Turkey having as
destination different trade companies from Austria and
Switzerland.
Acting based on risk analysis, the border policemen carried out a
control on the freight compartment where they found five male
persons hidden among the plastic products trying to elude the
border check
From the checks it resulted that these men were Turkish citizens
aged between 18 - 40. They stated that they resorted to this method
because they wanted to reach the Schengen area and had no visa.
Within the first investigations, the driver of the freight vehicle
stated he did not know how the five persons had gotten in the
car.
The investigations are further carried out by the border policemen
aiming to detect the persons involved in the organization and
facilitation of the group, as well as for the establishment of the
entire criminal activity.
10 Asian citizens hidden in a freight vehicle
loaded with timber, detected in Bors
Border policemen from Bihor detected 10 Asian citizens attempting
to illegally exit Romania hidden in a trailer of a freight vehicle
loaded with timber. For the 10 Asian citizens, nine Pakistani and
one Indian, criminal files were opened for the crime of attempting
to illegally cross the border, and the driver of the freight
vehicle - Romanian citizen - is under investigations for committing
the crime of trafficking with migrants.
On 17.03.2010, around 9.40 p.m, in Bors B.C.P., Bihor county, the
Romanian citizen Liviu A., aged 41, residing in Dambovita county,
presented himself for the exit border check driving a freight
vehicle loaded according, to the accompanying documents, with
timber from a company from Dambovita which was transported for an
Italian company.
Acting based on risk analysis, the border policemen carried out a
thorough check on the vehicle. Thus inside the truck, in a special
place specially arranged for the timber pallets 10 persons were
hidden attempting to illegally exit Romania.
Following the checks it resulted that the group was made up of nine
Pakistani citizens and one Indian who were attempting to travel
illegally to Italia.
Within the preliminary investigations, the driver of the freight
vehicle stated he did not know how the concerned persons had gotten
in the vehicle.
The border policemen have worked out preliminary documents in order
to institute the criminal proceedings for the crime of attempting
to illegally cross the border (10 migrants) and for the crime of
people smuggling (for the driver of the freight vehicle, Romanian
citizen A. Liviu).