The Federal Security Service breaks international prostitution ring - the FSB public relations office

MOSCOW. November 10. KAZINFORM The Federal Security Service has broken an international prostitution ring, which engaged in human trafficking using illegal migration channels to western Europe, the FSB public relations office reported on Tuesday, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.

"The criminal ring included citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The operation was conducted jointly with the Investigations Committee of the Prosecutor General's Office and foreign partners," the FSB said.

"As a result of the operation, 14 active members of the group have been caught red-handed. Eight were detained in Russia and six - abroad. In addition, more than 20 persons have been exposed who are involved in these illegal activities," an FSB representative said.

"It has been ascertained that a ramified network of recruiting agents was operating in the Primorye Territory and the Belgorod, Kostroma regions and other provinces of central Russia, who, using fraud and abuse of trust recruited women (mostly from problem families) for subsequent ferrying them to western Europe on tourist visas.

"A criminal case was opened against the organizers of the illegal migration channel. The operations and search events continue," the FSB said, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.