MACEDONIA: REGIONAL OPERATION DISRUPTS ELABORATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000434 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR G/TIP (SALLY NEUMANN),DOJ (JOE JONES),DOJ/OPDAT (CARL ALEXANDRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: REGIONAL OPERATION DISRUPTS ELABORATE TIP NETWORK REF: SKOPJE 365 SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) The conclusion of the regional anti-trafficking "Operation Danube" led to the arrest of 19 Macedonian citizens on TIP-related charges on May 29. Ministry of Interior (MOI) officials credit good regional cooperation and the use of special investigative measures for the success of the operation. Despite clear signs of trafficking, Macedonian authorities acknowledge that difficulties related to securing solid evidence will make it hard to prosecute the perpetrators on TIP charges. They are determined, however, to see the suspects convicted and given the maximum allowable TIP-related sentences. End summary. REGIONAL ANTI-TIP OPERATION YIELDS RESULTS IN SEVEN COUNTRIES... ¶2. (U) In a May 30 meeting with PolOff and a DOJ representative, MOI Chief Inspectors for Combating TIP and Illegal Migration (TIP Sector) Mome Jakomovski and Ljupco Markudov reviewed the transnational anti-TIP "Operation Danube," which concluded in Macedonia on May 29 with the arrest of 19 suspects. ¶3. (SBU) Coordinated by the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) Center, the secret, transnational operation was conducted by police and prosecutors on the territories of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria. Launched on December 12, 2006, the operation traced the activities of a well-organized transnational TIP network through the use of special investigative measures. Five Macedonian officers from the TIP Sector knew the details of the whole operation, which was concluded on May 29 in all of the countries involved, with the exception of Serbia and Slovenia. Due to national legal requirements, Slovenia concluded its part of the operation on May 5 with the arrest of five suspects, while Serbia concluded its part on May 28 with the arrest of 11 suspects, according to MOI contacts. ...32 VICTIMS OF LABOR EXPLOITATION/ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ¶4. (SBU) As part of Macedonia's contribution to the investigation, the MOI's TIP Sector was authorized to use surveillance and controlled deliveries during the period January 5-May 29, 2007. Over a period of five months, these special investigative measures revealed smuggling of three Turkish Kurds and 29 Chinese, 16 of whom were arrested, interviewed and deported back to their country of origin at the expense of the MOI. The testimony of the arrestees showed that they were confused regarding their whereabouts and knew only that "they wanted to be in Europe." The usual story was that the potential migrant had paid USD 2,000 to someone in China, with the understanding that the migrant owed an additional USD 15,000 upon commencement of work in an EU country, usually Greece or Austria. ¶5. (SBU) Relating the story of one of the migrants, who in five years had not managed to settle his debt to his trafficker, Chief Inspector Jakomovski suggested that the majority of the arrested illegal migrants were TIP victims for labor exploitation, but noted the lack of solid evidence available for trying a "pure TIP" case under Art. 418a of the Macedonian Criminal Code. ...19 SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF AN ELABORATE TIP OPERATION ¶6. (SBU) The May 29 conclusion of "Operation Danube" led to the arrest of 19 suspects in Macedonia. By May 30, an investigative judge had ordered pre-trial detention for 12 of the main suspects, including the alleged ring-leaders: Naser Shemturek, Nexhati Ajdari, and Olivera Trajkovska. Special Organized Crime Prosecutor Slavica Temelkovski will prosecute SKOPJE 00000434 002 OF 002 the case on the basis of Criminal Code Art. 418b ("smuggling of migrants") and Art. 418c ("organizing a group for TIP or smuggling"). If convicted, the main suspects could get up to 10 years in prison. COMMENT ¶7. (SBU) Following recent successful anti-TIP raids (reftel) in western Macedonia, the completion of "Operation Danube" shows the Macedonian government's (GOM) readiness to participate effectively in regional efforts to combat TIP. Anti-TIP officials in the GOM seem determined to seek the stiffest possible sentences in these cases. Post will press the GOM to speed up prosecutions in these recent TIP cases, and to ensure that any convictions are in fact accompanied by stiff sentences. MILOVANOVIC