Zero Tolerance for Migrant Smugglers

The Romanian Interior Minister pledges zero tolerance for corruption

Daniela Budu, 05.06.2024, 14:00

Former or current employees of Romania’s Interior Ministry are suspected of being part of an organized crime ring of migrant smugglers.

DIICOT and DNA prosecutors on Tuesday conducted a series of searches at company headquarters and houses. According to the authorities, the aforementioned crime ring was made up of tens of people, Romanian and foreign citizens, who reportedly smuggled illegal migrants into the country by issuing labour permits and who eventually helped these people to make it to countries in the Schengen Zone.

Part of these migrants left Romania without even making contact with the recruitment agencies. Most of these migrants came from countries with terrorist potential, such as Pakistan or Bangladesh. According to the prosecutors, the employees of the General Inspectorate for Immigration would have taken bribes up to one thousand Euros in order to approve their working permits and for shorter periods bribes could reach a couple of thousands Euros.

In a communiqué, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) explains that it has shunned any illegal activity and has promptly notified the prosecutors on any potential irregularities in the institution’s good functioning.

According to the aforementioned institution, 50 suchlike operations involving over 500 policemen including high-ranking police officers have been staged this year so far.

The IGI has also mentioned that jointly with officers from the General Anti-corruption Directorate has constantly provided counseling and staged various corruption-prevention activities at the level of all subordinated structures.

This is what Romanian citizens and Romania’s foreign partners are expecting against the efforts of joining the Schengen zone, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu says.

“This is what we expect from other European partners from the EU member countries, which have been subjected to pressure from illegal migration, zero tolerance for corruption in all Europe, an effective way of combating illegal migration in all European countries’, Predoiu went on to say

According to a field ministry communiqué, illegal migration at Romania’s borders went down by 73% in the past year alone. Predoiu says the ministry he leads is reiterating its commitment to transparency, integrity and international cooperation for ensuring security and stability at Romania’s borders, thus contributing to the country’s objective of integrating into the Schengen zone

We recall that on March 31, Romania and Bulgaria were partly allowed to enter the Schengen zone only with their air and maritime borders. The Romanian authorities are carrying on efforts to achieve the country’s full accession to Schengen, which also involves its terrestrial borders.

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