Trafficking in immigrants from eastern Europe has become a major trade for organised criminals, including the Russian mafia, according to the deputy head of the EU police agency, Europol.
Dutch and German police are investigating two gangs involved in the trafficking of Romanians to other European countries, including Ireland, said Dr Willy Bruggeman, assistant co-ordinator of the Dutch-based agency.
"People are being smuggled in inhuman conditions. Sometimes their passports are confiscated by criminals," he said. Sums of up to £20,000 were being charged, generally with a small cash payment up front.
"In some cases people will have to pay the balance by agreeing to work for the organisation when they reach their destination," he told The Irish Times.
It is difficult to infiltrate gangs and discover how many were responsible for the trade, but Europol believes the criminals responsible for trafficking in women and children for prostitution are also exploiting illegal immigrants.
Gardai are concerned at the increasing numbers of Romanians being smuggled in container lorries arriving in the Wexford port of Rosslare.
Last week 22 people were found in two containers. On Monday six Romanian men and a woman were found in a container in Dublin, which had come from Rosslare.
There are fears that people being smuggled into Ireland will suffocate or die of dehydration in the summer heat.
Dr Bruggeman said there were no reliable figures on the number of Romanians trying to make the journey from east to west. According to French police, 300 Romanians have been arrested in Cherbourg since January, the same number as for the whole of 1997.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, visited Europol headquarters in the Hague yesterday for a briefing on the agency's future role. Mr Jurgen Storbeck said the fight against human trafficking would be one of its priorities.
The European Council of Justice Ministers will meet today to discuss organised crime and finalise the Europol budget for next year.
