An organised crime group that took vulnerable women from Romania to the Netherlands for sexual exploitation has been halted thanks to a coordinated operation between Romanian and Dutch authorities, in collaboration with Eurojust. During an action day earlier this month, 13 suspects were arrested in both countries. Four of the suspects have been surrendered from Romania to the Netherlands.
Starting in 2020, the group, led by two family members, used ‘loverboy’ techniques to target vulnerable Romanian women, who were coerced into prostitution in the Netherlands under direct supervision of the criminal group.
To maintain total control over the lives of their victims, the suspects lived with them. In some cases, members of the group used physical and psychological force against the women to prevent them from escaping the situation.
The sexual exploitation generated significant illegal proceeds for the criminal group, which were laundered through relatives and close friends. These individuals either transported large sums of cash or moved the money through financial institutions.
Eurojust coordinated the international investigation. After the Romanian authorities approached Eurojust for support in early 2024, several meetings were organised with the Dutch authorities. During these meetings, information about the criminal group was exchanged. To enable the authorities to work together effectively and exchange information and evidence in real time, Eurojust set up a joint investigation team in January 2025.
Together with Eurojust, the authorities organised an action day early this month to detain the suspects and gather more evidence through house searches. In the Netherlands, six suspects were arrested and four houses were searched. During actions in Romania, four suspects were arrested based on European Arrest Warrants from the Netherlands and three suspects were put under judicial control. Additionally, 18 houses were searched and a car, weapons and cash were seized.
Eight of the arrested suspects remain in pre-trial detention.
The following authorities carried out the operation:
- Romania: Prosecution Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice- Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism –Ploiesti Territorial Service; Police Inspectorate Prahova-Criminal Investigation Service; Brigade for Combating Organised Crime Ploiesti
- Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office Amsterdam
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union