Network suspected of smuggling women to Western Europe was smashed by police

Reuters writes about the arrest of 30 people from the group known as Cordunenilor Gang, located mainly in Iasi, Romania

This is a network suspected of smuggling women to western Europe. They were operating in Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain and Ireland.

The group's victims were sexually exploited, obliged to become beggars or forced into pickpocket gangs in major European cities.

Romania aims to join the EU's Schengen zone of passport-free travel in 2011. Strengthening the fight against cross-border crime is one of the conditions for joining the area.