The suspects allegedly staged fake internet auctions and used forged credit cards, according t Romanian prosecutors specialized in organized crime and terrorism.
Romanian authorities made the arrests in the capital Bucharest and Ramnicu Valcea, Sibiu, Alexandria, Dragasani and Hunedoara, following an operation plan established together with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), official sources said.
The group’s alleged leader, Romeo Chita, was apprehended at the house of democrat liberal lawmaker Dumitru Puzdrea. Puzdrea said he was unaware of a crime group operating at one of his apartments.
In May, American authorities announced charges against 38 suspects in the U.S. and Romania in two indictments of alleged computer and credit card fraud.