10 charged with human trafficking offences in Romania

Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), working alongside Romanian Police, have carried out warrants and arrested and charged 10 people in connection with the human trafficking of Romanian females to the UK.

On Tuesday, 14 May, more than 130 officers from Romania’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit and special forces carried out 14 warrants in Romania, resulting in the seizure of cash, weapons and other items.

The NWROCU operation began in 2017, following the identification of 30 victims who were suspected of being trafficked into the UK by organised criminals to be used in the sex trade.

The following people, from Dambovita in Romania, have been charged with the following offences under Romania law:

1. Being part of a criminal group.
2. Controlling Prostitution.
3. Money Laundering.

1. Ion Olteanu, 43 years, charged, arrested and detained for 30 days
2. Ionut Panait, 36 years, charged, arrested and detained for 30 days
3. Vasile Andreescu, 51 years, charged and bailed
4. Gabriel–Florentin Neblea, 34 years, charged and bailed
5. Nicusor Ilinca, 33 years, charged and bailed
6. Valentin Ureche, 33 years, charged and bailed
7. Luis-Alexandru Olteanu, 22 years, charged and bailed
8. Alexandra Olteanu, 24 years, charged and bailed
9. Alexandru-Dan Tandura, 37 years, charged and bailed
10. Georgiana-Gabriela Samuila, 32 years, charged & released under investigation by prosecutor

A 41-year-old man was detained and later released under investigation.

This investigation is a joint investigation between NWROCU and the Public Prosecutors Office for the Directorate for Investigating Organised Criminality & Terrorism and the Central Unit & Romanian Police, Dambovita County Unit (Service) for Countering Organised Criminality.

Support is available to victims and anyone affected human trafficking or who has any information can contact police by calling 101 or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111. Alternatively you can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 121 700 or visit https://www.unseenuk.org/.