Romania: border guards, others charged with smuggling
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Police in Romania have detained 26 people, including a number of border police officers, on charges of smuggling cigarettes and fake Rolex watches and helping migrants illegally enter from Serbia.
Anti-organized crime prosecutors said the group, including the chief border police officer and 17 police officers at the Stamora Moravita crossing, were detained Wednesday for 24 hours, on charges of taking and receiving bribes from Nov. 2014-April 2016.
A statement said the officers set up an organized crime group that allowed people and goods to pass the border without checks and controls.
It said the individuals protected a Serbian group that brought fake Rolexes into Romania, later exported to Germany to be sold on the black market.
A court will rule later whether to arrest them for 30 days.
