Sat, Jul 04 2009

CRIMINAL GROUPS FROM BULGARIA AMONG LEADERS IN EUROPE'S CHILD TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY

Wed, Jul 19 2006 09:03 CET 322 Views

The Independent reported that one of the booming illegal industries in Europe was child trafficking. Bulgarian criminal groups were among the leaders of this trade, making pregnant women travel to neighbouring Greece to give birth there.

A child could be sold for as much as 20 000 euro on the black market, The Independent reported.

Police in Bulgaria and Greece were trying to implement new measures against trafficking. In recent months a number of criminal group representatives have been arrested in Greece.

Bulgarians were among the leaders of the child trafficking rings operating in Greece, Italy, France and Portugal, an Interpol report said.

Higher demand produced more revenue for criminal organisations, which in turn made countering their activities more difficult, The Independent reported.

Police officers in some underdeveloped Bulgarian regions told The Independent that representatives of criminal groups have been investing in tourism there in a money laundering attempt.

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