In the first semester of 2011, R.B.P. aimed at fulfilling the duties foreseen by the national law in force regarding the optimization of border surveillance and border control, efficient countering of cross-border crime, observance of citizens’ rights and freedoms, ensuring good quality services to all citizens for whose benefit it carries out its activity.
In the period under review, the actions performed and results attained by Romanian Border Police were the following:
Movement of people and transportation means
The traffic values registered in the border crossing points in the first semester of 2011 indicate approximately 16,500,000 persons:
- 13,800,000 E.U. citizens;
- 2,700,00 non-E.U. citizens.
In the same period of 2010, 16,300,000 persons (13,800,000 E.U. citizens and 2,500,000 non-E.U. citizens) crossed the Romanian borders.
Thus, a small increase in the traffic values at the Romanian borders by 200,000 persons is recorded.
In the first six months of 2011, 4,860,000 transportation means crossed through the border crossing points, an increase by 23,000 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Illegal deeds ascertained by R.B.P.
In the first six months of 2011, 12,490 illegal deeds (4,620 crimes and 7,870 small offences) were detected. The number of crimes ascertained by the border policemen increased by 17% compared to the same period of the previous year.
In the first semester of 2011 small offences fines were applied for 7,788 persons (7,374 Romanian and 414 foreign citizens), amounting to 2,106,927 lei.
Countering illegal migration
Border policemen detected in the competence area 1,321 foreign citizens involved in illegal migration.
Thus, an increase by 20% in the number of persons involved in illegal migration compared to the same period of 2010 is recorded.
Out of the total of 1,321 persons involved in illegal migration, 742 foreign citizens were detected while illegally crossing the border / attempting to illegally cross the border (386 on the entry way and 356 foreign citizens on the exit way).
In the period under review, compared to the first semester of 2010, the following were ascertained:
- increase by 65% in the number of crossings / attempts of illegal crossing on the entry way;
- decrease by 31% in the number of crossings / attempts of illegal crossing on the exit way;
- the highest number of illegal crossings / attempts of illegal crossing were registered at the border with Hungary;
- increase by approximately 20 times in the number of illegal crossings / attempts of illegal crossing at the border with Serbia;
- increase in the number of citizens from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco detected while attempting to cross / crossing the border illegally compared to the first semester of 2010.
In the first semester of 2011, out of the total number of 1,321 persons involved in illegal migration, 743 migrants were organized in 240 groups of migrants in which 62 facilitators were also identified.
The number of migrant groups increased by 59% compared to the first semester of 2010.
The number of migrants associated in groups increased thrice compared to the same period of 2010.
The facilitators come from Romania, Moldova, Turkey, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Syria, Serbia, Morocco, Pakistan, Libya, The Netherlands, Thailand etc.
Countering Cross-Border Crime
Stolen vehicles
In the period under review, 220 vehicles stolen from abroad (167 cars, 13 trucks vehicles, 10 minibuses, 27 motorcycles 3 auto trailers) were detected in the competence area. In the first semester of 2010, 153 vehicles stolen from abroad were detected. The number of detections increased by 44%.
Most of the persons involved in committing these types of crimes were Romanian citizens followed by Italian citizens.
The main "supplier" of stolen vehicles which transit the Romanian borders remains Italy.
Illegal trafficking with cigarettes
This phenomenon spread in the last years at the Romanian borders, as traffickers rely on the impressive "profit" which they can obtain from trading the cigarettes on the "black market" in our country and especially in the Western European countries.
Thus, in the period under review border policemen detained for the purpose of confiscating, 3,798,504 packs of cigarettes with an approximate value of 29,179,472 lei out of which 1,373,276 packs, amounting to approximately 9,189,656 lei, being subject to cigarettes smuggling.
At the same time, 26 groups organized for the purpose of committing cigarettes smuggling in which 225 persons were involved, were detected.
Compared to the same period of 2010, 4,764,240 packs of cigarettes with an approximate value of 21,900,000 lei were detained for the purpose of confiscation out of which 1,991,452 packs were subject to cigarette smuggling amounting to an approximate value of 9,150,000 lei.
The biggest quantity of smuggled cigarettes was detained at the border with Ukraine followed by the border with the Republic of Moldova.
In the field of countering trafficking with consumer goods, precious metals and heritage objects
250 economic-financial crimes were detected, an increase compared to 2010, in which 94 crimes were detected.
In the field of countering trafficking with weapons and ammunition
53 crimes of trafficking with weapons were detected, an increase compared to 50 crimes in 2010, being discovered 56 weapons, 18,016 cartridges (hunting mostly) and 1.250 kg. explosives.
Increase by 18% in the number of weapons detected by border policemen.
The citizens involved in this illegal activity come from Italy, Spain, The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Turkey, Austria, U.K., Hungary, Greece and Romania.
In the field of countering fish poaching
In 2011, 590 crimes of fish poaching were detected and 935 small offence fines were applied, amounting to 198,270 lei, which is an increase compared to 2010 (568 crimes of fish poaching and 490 small offence fines were applied, amounting to 97,190 lei) being detained 66 boats, 22 motor boats, 46,118 m. monofilament nets, 2,570 other fishing gears, 9,480 kg. fish (39.7 kg. sturgeon), 18 kg. roe.
In the field of trafficking in drugs
In the first semester of 2011, 2.045 kg. drugs (0.500 kg. heroin, 0.035 kg. hashish, 0.654 kg. cannabis, 0.856 kg. other drugs) and 6,278 other narcotic substances, 44,814 anabolic substances, 364 medicines containing narcotic substances were detected, being ascertained 40 de crimes of trafficking with drugs.
Persons involved in trafficking with drugs come from Romania, R. Moldova, Russia and Bulgaria.
In the field of countering intellectual property rights crimes
A number of 162 crimes were ascertained, compared to 69 in the same period of last year.
Thus in the first semester of 2011, border policemen together with customs employees detected at the Romanian borders counterfeited goods of protected international brands, as follows:
- 103,146 counterfeited clothing and underwear items of international protected brands;
- 10,856 items of counterfeited perfumery products;
- 84.581 pairs of shoes.
Representative cases:
Turkish fishing vessel detained in the Black Sea
On 27.05.2011, border policemen within County Inspectorate of Border Police Constanta detected, through SCOMAR system, the AHMET COMOGLU fishing vessel, Turkish flag, which was about 60 sea miles far from shore, in the exclusive economic area of Romania.As the fishing vessel refused to obey the flashing lights, the radio and acoustic stopping signals and continued to sail, another Border Police vessel was deployed, which carried out manoeuvres to stop the fishing vessel.
Because the fishing vessel’s commander refused to stop in order to undergo the legal verifications, border policemen fired several warning gunshots. As the vessel continued to disobey the warning signs, the police shot the stern of the ship, the floating line level, propulsion area system.
Not even in this situation did the fishing vessels’ commander stop, entering the exclusive economic area of Bulgaria, hence the Romanian Border Police, in keeping with the cooperation protocols concluded with the Black Sea littoral states notified the Bulgarian Border Police and the Turkish Coast Guard Command, continuing the pursuit.
At 1 p.m., the fishing vessel stopped and on this occasion the border policemen observed the crew members who ignited fumigenes aboard of the Turkish vessel.
The Border Police boarded the ship and ascertained that the motor compartment of the vessel was in fire and one crew member had a superficial wound at the left leg.
He received first aid immediately, the sailer’s health being out of danger and the whole Turkish crew was transferred to the board of the Border Police vessel.
We mention that the Romanian Border Police acted and exercised its prerogatives while strictly observing the national and international legal provisions in force.
Bulgarian fishing vessel detected while illegally fishing turbot in the exclusive economic area of Romania
On 13.04.2011, with the aid of the maritime surveillance and control equipments of SCOMAR, a suspect target was identified, as being a possible stationing fishing vessel approximately 19 miles abeam Mangalia, in the exclusive economic area of Romania.A ship of Mangalia Naval Group intervened to identify the target and found it was a fishing vessel bearing a Bulgarian flag.
The fishing vessel’s crew complied with the radio warnings of the border police and the police boarded the vessel. The fishing vessel’s commandant with a crew of 10 Bulgarians admitted he knew he was in the exclusive economic area of Romania and that they were fishing turbot. Border police discovered aboard 11 turbots and turbot fishing nets; moreover in the vicinity of the fishing vessel they observed a net which belonged to the same Bulgarian vessel. The net of approximately 30 m was dragged out having 12 turbots in it.
Smugglers detained at the Romanian-Ukrainian border with gunshots
In February border police from Suceava detected and detained two persons, one Romanian and one Ukrainian who tried to introduce in the country approximately 35,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes.Border policemen working on the thermovision van within B.P.S. Siret, Suceava county, observed in the vicinity of the Romanian-Ukrainian border a group of persons who after abandoning several large packs at about 500 - 600 m. from the line of demarcation between the two states, returned on the territory of the neighbouring state.
An operational unit went to the scene, and after they searched the area, they found on the banks of Rusului river, near Fratautii Noi, several packs containing cigarettes.
Police officers oversaw the area until morning, when around 07.40 a.m., 2 terrain vehicles were observed approaching the abandoned packs and at that moment border policemen acted to retain and identify the persons in vehicles.
Because both vehicles drove off instantly the border policemen shot several fires vertically and in the direction of the tyres.
The driver of one of the vehicles lost control of the wheel and stopped in the Rusului river. The passengers, one Romanian and one Ukrainian citizen, tried to flee from the scene and in this moment border police shot other fires managing to retain them, one of them being wounded in the shoulder.
At the same time in trying to stop the second vehicle, one of the border policemen was caught and dragged approximately 6 meters. The car driver refused to stop managing to escape the scene.
Border policemen called for the ambulance which transported the person wounded in the shoulder and the border policeman to the Municipal Hospital Radauti in order to receive medical care, their state being stable from a medical point of view.
Subsequently, the area was searched, and 70 packages containing about 35,000 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin were discovered.
Border policemen drew up the preliminary documents for smuggling which were submitted to the prosecutors within the Prosecutors Office of Radauti Court of Law in order to adopt the legal measures for the persons detained.
32,000 packs of cigarettes seized by border policemen from Botosani
Border policemen from Botosani detected two Romanian citizens who were transporting with a vehicle over 32,000 packs of cigarettes bearing the stamp of the Republic of Moldova. Border policemen seized the entire quantity of cigarettes, took the vehicle under custody and for the persons involved criminal files were drawn up for committing the crimes of tax evasion and smuggling.On the 28th of June 2011, around 01.30 a.m., a unit made up of border policemen within Stanca Border Police Sector carrying out a specific action organized with the help of the Directorate General for Information and Internal Protection, stopped for control in Mitoc, a Ford Transit vehicle, registered in Romania, driven by the Romanian citizen George B., aged 23.
Upon control it was found that the vehicle was loaded with large packages wrapped in sacks, full of cigarettes. An inventory indicated that there were 31,730 packs of cigarettes, Plugaru, Monte Carlo and Winston, bearing the fiscal stamp of the Republic of Moldova. During the investigations, the man stated that he had bought the cigarettes in Mitoc, from several citizens and had intended to sell them in Saveni. George B. was to be helped with the transport by an accomplice, Ioan B., aged 42, the rightful owner of the vehicle.
The cigarettes amounting to 280,000 lei, were detained by the police for the purpose of confiscation and the vehicle was placed under custody at the premises of B.P.S. Stanca. The preliminary documents were drawn up in order to institute criminal proceedings against the two persons for committing the crimes of smuggling and tax evasion and submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office of Saveni Court of Law, competent for dealing with the case.
Based on the evidences, the Prosecutor’s Office of Saveni Court of Law issued an interdiction for George B. to leave the place of residence for a period of 30 days and to contact Ioan B.
Ten Afghan migrants and four Bulgarian facilitators detected at the border
Border policemen from Constanta detected in three vehicles, 10 persons of Afghan citizenship (six men, two women and two children), who helped by 4 Bulgarian citizens intended to illegally reach Germany.On 25.06.2011, acting based on an information, border policemen within B.P.S. Ostrov, carried out a specific mission in the field of countering illegal migration in the competence area.
Thus, around 04.00 a.m. three vehicles registered in Bulgaria, with Bulgarian drivers M.N. aged 24, H.N. aged 49 and K.I. aged 40, were stopped on the way of exit from Ostrov.
During the check, border policemen found eleven passengers, nine adults and two children who could not produce documents to prove that they underwent the border formalities. Further checks showed that one of the passengers was Bulgarian citizen aged 43 and the other ten passengers were Afghan citizens aged between 5 and 31.
It was established that they had crossed the border illegally as pedestrians guided by the Bulgarian citizen G.S. after which they headed towards Ostrov. After that they were taken over by Bulgarian citizens who were waiting for them with the three vehicles after they had legally entered Romania through BCP Ostrov, three hours beforehand.
According to the declarations of the persons involved, the Bulgarian citizens intended to transport the migrants’ group to Germany.
Following the ascertained deeds, border policemen drawn up the preliminary documents for criminal proceedings against the drivers for committing the crime of trafficking with migrants and against the migrants for illegally crossing the border.
The criminal file was submitted to the Prosecutor’s office of Medgidia Court of Law, and the ten Afghan citizens were handed over to the Bulgarian border authorities, in keeping with the cooperation protocol between the two institutions.
36 migrants hidden in a truck transporting mineral oil
In February, in B.C.P. Nadlac, Arad county, Georgi D., aged 53, driver of a truck registered in Bulgaria presented to exit the country. According to the accompanying documents, he was transporting mineral oil from Greece for a German company.Border policemen from Arad had suspicions regarding the load of the truck, therefore they carried out a thorough check of the vehicle. Thus in the interior of the truck 36 persons were found (22 men, 4 women and 10 children) aged between 3 and 44, masked by the load of the truck, in a special arranged place between the boxes of mineral oil. The verifications showed that the persons concerned are Afghan citizens.
The investigations were continued by border policemen from Arad in order to establish the criminal activity and identify all involved persons, following to adopt in the end the necessary legal measures.
Machinery placed under police restriction in Constanta
In March, border policemen from Constanta, under the coordination of D.I.I.C.O.T. prosecutors - Central Structure, with the operational support of officers within the General Directorate for Information and Internal Protection and policemen within the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police carried out two operations for the identification and placing under restriction of some heavy capacity machinery, suspect of having been stolen within the European Union.Following these actions, 45 agricultural machinery, building engineering and public works machinery amounting to approximately 4,000,000 euro, were placed under police restriction within the radius of Constanta county.
The joint investigation teams acted concomitantly in 12 locations from Constanţa county, in the area of the localities Lumina, Ovidiu, Plopeni, Runcu, Cariera Sitorman and Constanta Cumpana, Nicolae Balcescu, Topalu, Medgidia, Costinesti and Constanta.
From the above-mentioned localities 45 machineries were placed under police restriction consisting in: tractors, bulldozers, pick-hammers, excavators, vibrating tampers and other types (CATERPILLAR, NEW HOLLAND, TEREX, BOMAG, KOMATSU, JOHN DEER, VOLVO etc.).
The machinery was brought to C.I.B.P. Constanta and, subsequently, under the coordination of the case prosecutors, border policemen and Financial Guard representatives performed complex verifications on the authenticity of the registration plates, VIN codes, and of the legal documents necessary for their procurement, ownership and their use and other specific investigations.
Upon a first evaluation of the 45 machineries - some new, some "second hand" - it was considered that their total evaluation amounts to 4,000,000 Euro. Based on the delegation from the prosecutors within the General Directorate for Information and Internal Protection, border policemen from Constanta continued the specific investigations in this complex files.
Land Rover stolen from Italy and detected in Cenad
In January, border policemen from Timis detected and retained a Land Rover, amounting to approximately 30,000 Euro, which was reported as having been stolen from Italy and which a Romanian citizen was trying to introduce into the country.
In B.C.P. Cenad, Timis county, L. Marian, a Romanian citizen, aged de 40, residing in Olt county, driving a Land Rover, made in 2006, presented to enter the country. During the border formalities, our workers found in the operational databases that the vehicle was reported as having been stolen from Italy in 2007.
Border policemen drew up a criminal file for theft and the vehicle with an approximate value of 30,000 Euro was placed under restriction within the premises of Sannicolau Mare Border Police Sector, until closure of investigations.
Audi A8 stolen from Germania
Border policemen from C.I.B.P. Maramures detected within the radius of Viseu de Sus an Audi A8 vehicle, whose market value amounted to 35,000 euro, suspect of being stolen from abroad.
Based on intelligence, border policemen from Viseu de Sus organized and carried out an action of countering international trafficking with stolen vehicles in the responsibility area.
During the action, border policemen identified and stopped for control within the radius of Viseu de Sus a vehicle Audi A8, registered in Germany, driven by a Greek citizen, Prodromos D., aged 30.
The checks in the data bases showed that the car was registered as having been stolen from Germany on 09.05.2011.
Border policemen drew up a criminal file for committing the crime of theft complicity and the vehicle amounting to 35,000 Euro was placed under police restriction at the premises of C.I.B.P. Maramures, until closure of investigations.
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