Human Trafficking Ring Busted in Ukrainian Capital

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officers have arrested two employees of a house of culture in Kiev who tricked five Ukrainian nationals into sex slavery in Syria, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on 21 June, quoting the SBU’s press centre.

The five girls used to do gymnastics at the house of culture. They were forced to work at a night club in Syria virtually for nothing, the agency said.

The police uncovered 783 illegal migrants in Odessa Region in January-May 2007, 85 per cent of whom came from Moldova and its breakaway Dniester region, the UNIAN news agency reported on 18 June, quoting the deputy head of the Odessa Region police directorate, Dmytro Fuchedzhi.

The police busted two groups of illegal migrants who set up businesses in the region and are checking their activities. They deported 95 illegal migrants from Ukraine, UNIAN said.

Sources:

Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian 1305 gmt 21 Jun 07;

UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1906 gmt 18 Jun 07

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