Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SKOPJE434
2007-06-04 09:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: REGIONAL OPERATION DISRUPTS ELABORATE
how-toVZCZCXRO4092 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #0434/01 1550937 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040937Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6128 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3680 RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
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
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
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