Gang of five convicted of human trafficking and sexual exploitation offences

A gang who targeted “vulnerable” women in Dundee have been convicted following an investigation into sexual exploitation, human trafficking and drug supply.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, Marian Cumpanasoiu, 37, Remus Stan, 34, Calalan Dobre, 44, Cristian Urlanteanu, 41, and Alexandra Bugonea, 34, were found guilty, Police Scotland said.

Detectives said the gang, originally from Romania, got the women hooked on drugs in an attempt to control them, ensuring they would come back for more.

They will be sentenced in due course.

The five were arrested and charged as part of Operation Recloir, a Police Scotland probe launched in 2021 to target suspected human traffickers operating in the Tayside area.

Detective Inspector Scott Carswell told Sky News that the inquiry initially focused on brothels in the city and the suspected trafficking of Romanian woman into Scotland, but expanded in 2022.

He told the broadcaster: “Into the summer of 2022 we started to receive information that the crime group were targeting vulnerable Dundee females, and it looked like they were grooming them and coercing them with gifts of free drugs and other things until it moved on to the victims having to get involved in sexual activity to get the free drugs.

“And unfortunately, this got them addicted to the class A drugs that had been provided.”

Police Scotland said it had been working with the affected women to provide them with support in an effort to ensure their welfare and long-term safeguarding.