The head of the CNA criminal prosecution department, Bogdan Zumbreanu, declared during a press briefing today that the operation held at Sculeni and Leuşeni customs targeted illegal actions of carriers of passengers.

The 67 searches (44 in buildings, 8 in cars and 15 in buses) were made today in a dossier started in January this year, while behind them were raised several papers and books on which businessmen were working. 

Prosecutors also have telephone intercepts in which the customs officers negotiated through drivers the bribe amount which businessmen had to give in order to ensure the "smooth functioning" of international routes. Prosecutors documented amounts ranging from 20 euros to 650 euros.

Bogdan Zumbreanu said that some of the detainees have pleaded guilty and cooperate with the investigation.

Customs and border police employees of the border police are accused of taking bribes for international routes in exchange of not charging drivers that circulated in basis of inter-bus cards. Meanwhile, licenses from Auto Transport National Agency costs 9000 euros per route and if a businessman has several routes - 5000 euros. Normally, these drivers were to be charged with 1,200 lei each, and the businessman - with 9,000 lei. 

Following today's operation were arrested 14 customs officers, 3 border police officers, 5 businessmen and 7 drivers. The operation was conducted with the support of the internal security department of Customs Service and Border Police.