Thirteen Russian nationals have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, the state-run TASS news agency reported Tuesday.
The men, who hail from Russia's republic of Chechnya, smuggled migrants from Vietnam into the European Union via Russia.
Law enforcement agencies in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland made the arrests as part of a joint operation after one of the gang's ringleaders was detained at the Lithuanian border.
Eighty-four Vietnamese nationals were detained across Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian borders on Tuesday, the Baltic News Service reported.
A number of Polish citizens have
also been arrested, TASS reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.