COPS have busted a horror "slavery ring" in Romania after a sick farm boss kept victims like animals.
Petre Popa allegedly ran the trafficking scheme by using taxi drivers to coax victims for forced labour on his land.
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Victims were promised £400-a-month salaries, three meals per day, and a place to sleep, police said.
But instead, they were allegedly forced to work 15 hours per day at the farm without getting paid.
Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism busted the ring last month after sending in an undercover officer.
Popa allegedly enslaved seven young beggars and kept them with almost 1,000 pigs, cows and sheep at his mountainous farm in Albestii de Arges commune in Arges County.
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The beggars, some of them with mental disorders, were taken from the main railway station in Bucharest, 100 miles away from the farm.
As soon as the victims arrived at the farm, it's said Popa confiscated their identity cards and their cell phones.
Cops say they were frequently beaten by the wealthy farmer and had to sleep on wooden beds in rooms full of mice,in an old tent or in the boot of a car.
Victim's beds were filthy, with matted blankets, dirty mattresses, and missing sheets, footage released by police showed.
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One bed was found in an outdoor shack that used a tarpaulin as a door.
Another bed was in the back of a small truck - with a clip showing flies swirling around it.
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One victim who wanted to run away was caught by a friend of Popa and beaten with a chain.
He had to be taken to the hospital and after that he was allegedly forced to work three more months in order to cover the costs for the hospital.
But one brave victim escaped from the farm and alerted police.
Romanian organised crime cops then raided the farm in Albestii de Arges commune after sending in an undercover officer to work there.
During the night, victims were taken to an isolated place in Curtea de Arges city, in order not to be noticed by the cops.
Police found a 17-year-old among the "enslaved".
What are the signs of modern slavery?
It's likely that you often see people in modern slavery without even thinking about it. Someone in slavery might:
- appear to be under the control of someone else and be reluctant to interact with others
- not have personal identification on them
- have few personal belongings, wear the same clothes every day or wear unsuitable clothes for work
- not be able to move around freely
- be reluctant to talk to strangers or the authorities
- appear frightened, withdrawn, or show signs of physical or psychological abuse
- dropped off and collected for work always in the same way, especially at unusual times, i.e. very early or late at night.
If you suspect someone is in modern slavery, you can:
- Call theModern Slavery Helplineon08000 121 700or fill out an online form.
- Contact the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to report concerns about the mistreatment of workers on0800 432 0804, or by emailcontact@gla.gov.uk
- Contact Crimestoppers on0800 555 111
- Contact the Police
- ContactAnti-SlaveryInternationalor otherspecialist anti-slavery organisations.
Taxi drivers were paid £60 to £70 pounds or a bottle of plum brandy and a piece of cheese for recruiting the slaves for the farmer, prosecutors say.
Popa was arrested for 24 hours for human trafficking and then placed on house arrest.
In 2021, Petre Popa was in the Romanian media as being "the first Romanian farmer to buy a mobile slaughterhouse".
At the hearings from DIICOT Pitesti, several former slaves told the prosecutors that Popa used to hit them in the back or in the head.
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The former slaves request in court over £20,000 pounds damages for the traumas suffered.
It is a second slave case to shock the country.
Slaves found chained up as 38 arrested
In July 2016, 38 slave masters were arrested and accused of kidnapping men and boys, chaining them, and forcing them into gladiator fights.
Around 65 vulnerable people were kept by the group across 12 years in Gamacesti, Arges County, Romania.
The slaves,included children aged 10-12 years old,were also whipped and forced into manual labour.
Roma residents of Gamacesti were angry at the raid, which they called heavy-handed.
They claimed instead the victims were homeless people who had been given food and shelter.
One resident said: “They were fed, they had money and they did not want to leave.”
After over two years of trials, the 38 slaves masters got between three and 16 years of jail.
They also have to pay to the former slaves damages of over £400,000 pounds.
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