MACEDONIA: "OPERATION DRAGON" BUSTS TIP NETWORK

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000178 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE; STATE FOR G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: "OPERATION DRAGON" BUSTS TIP NETWORK REF: 2007 SKOPJE 991 AND PREVIOUS SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) The conclusion of the anti-trafficking "Operation Dragon" led to the arrest of 15 Macedonian citizens on trafficking-in-persons (TIP) charges on March 3. The National Anti-TIP Commission credits the use of special investigative measures for the success of the operation and for the collection of evidence against the alleged traffickers. All 15 suspected traffickers are in 30-day detention awaiting trial for "organizing a group for TIP" and "migrant smuggling." End summary. ANTI-TIP OPERATION YIELDS 18 VICTIMS OF LABOR EXPLOITATION/ILLEGAL MIGRANTS... ¶2. (SBU) National Anti-TIP Commission Secretary Kiro Todorovski reviewed with us the anti-TIP "Operation Dragon" on March 5. The operation, which commenced in December 2007, involved four months of intensive police surveillance and the use of special investigative measures which revealed the smuggling of 14 Chinese and four Albanian citizens. Four of the Chinese migrants, including two children, were arrested during the conclusion of the operation and are currently at the government-run Shelter Transit Center for foreign victims. According to the material collected by the police, the trafficking route originated in Serbia and ran through Macedonia into Greece. The TIP gang charged Euros 1,000 for the transfer of a Chinese citizen and Euros 600 for an Albanian. ...15 SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF AN ELABORATE TIP NETWORK ¶3. (SBU) Video evidence obtained by police shows a well-organized TIP network with four ring-leaders and 12 other persons engaged in providing logistical support for the operation. (Note: One of the suspects is still at large. End note.) Fifteen of the participants in the TIP ring were arrested on March 3. An investigative judge has ordered a 30-day pre-trial detention for the suspects and issued a search warrant. On the basis of the search warrant, the police collected additional evidence from 12 houses related to the alleged traffickers, and confiscated eight vehicles. The special Organized Crime Prosecutor will prosecute 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 be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. COMMENT ¶4. (SBU) The completion of "Operation Dragon," which came just a few days after a February 21 high-level anti-TIP event opened by the Prime Minister, shows the Macedonian government's continued determination to combat TIP and prosecute traffickers. Post will press the government to speed up prosecutions in this most recent TIP case, and to ensure that any convictions are in fact accompanied by stiff sentences. NAVRATIL