The Moldovan police have dismantled a criminal gang with members aged 26 – 51 charged with tax evasion and jewelry smuggling.

"It’s a seizure of jewels worth MDL70 mn," said a top police officer.

The police found an illegal workshop where the jewelry was manufactured. The raw materials and the jewels were fetched to Moldova through the Transnistrian and the northern areas from Ukraine. 

The gang leader had five workshops of the kind in Chişinău and Bălţi. 

In searches at the members’ offices and houses, the police lifted documents, 22 kg of gold, raw materials, equipment, diamonds worth MDL40 mn and money in different currencies, worth MDL300,000.

Everything was confiscated. When being held up, the gang leader resisted the police and opened fire.

Now the suspects face jail sentences from 5 to 10 years.