The Hague, 12 January 2026
A criminal network suspected of trafficking vulnerable Romanian women to the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation has been dismantled following a coordinated action day in Romania and the UK. The operation, carried out in close cooperation with Eurojust, led to the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of several luxury vehicles and properties.
The investigation began in November 2022 when police identified a group of Romanian sex workers regularly operating in a London car park. Although the women initially did not report sexual exploitation, authorities established that a single Romanian national had financed their repeated travel between Romania and the United Kingdom. Further inquiries revealed that the women had been recruited in Cândești, Romania, transported to multiple locations across the UK, and forced into street prostitution in London.
To dismantle the network, Romanian and UK authorities established a joint investigation team with the support of Eurojust. Coordination meetings at Eurojust enabled the exchange of information and evidence, highlighting the transnational nature of the criminal organisation. UK authorities identified individuals responsible for transporting the women from Romania and within the United Kingdom, while Romanian investigators traced the proceeds of the criminal activities flowing back to Romania.
Following a three-year investigation, an action day was carried out in early 2026. In Romania, three suspects were arrested and two others placed under judicial control. Nine luxury cars and several properties were seized. In the United Kingdom, one suspect was arrested and charged under the Modern Slavery Act for arranging and facilitating the movement of persons for the purpose of exploitation.
Authorities involved:
Romania:
Prosecution Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice; Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Buzău Territorial Office; Ploiești Organized Crime Combating Brigade; Craiova Organized Crime Combating Brigade; General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie.
United Kingdom:
Crown Prosecution Service London; Metropolitan Police.
