Five members of a Romanian gang who "ruthlessly" exploited vulnerable women after plying them with drugs at brothels in Dundee have been jailed for sentences ranging from eight to 20 years. The group were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday following their conviction in January for a range of offences including rape.
Ring-leader Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu (38), described in court as a "smirking, winking pimp", received an extended sentence of 20 years in custody plus four years of supervision. Cristian Urlateanu (41) was sentenced to 18 years in custody followed by two years of supervision, whilst Remus Stan received 12 years, Catalin Dobre (45) 10 years and Alexandra Bugonea (35) eight years.
All five individuals have been added to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period. Stan will also be subject to a Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Order for five years after his release from prison.
Investigation and trial details
The convictions followed a six-week trial involving 10 victims at the High Court in Glasgow. The case arose from a police investigation launched in 2021 to target suspected human traffickers operating in the Tayside area.
The offences took place at various locations in Dundee including properties on Bright Street, Gellatly Street and Perth Road. Cumpanasoiu, also known as "Mario", was found guilty of 15 charges including running brothels and had earlier pleaded guilty to three further charges including attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Gang members' crimes
Urlateanu was found guilty of nine charges including rape, assault, living off the earnings of prostitution and supplying cocaine. He and his partner Bugonea were both convicted of raping the same woman together on various occasions at a flat on Bright Street.
Stan was found guilty of eight charges, including trafficking a woman into prostitution with Cumpanasoiu, and rape. Dobre was convicted of five charges including the gang rape of one woman alongside Urlateanu and Stan, whilst Bugonea was convicted of five charges including rape and providing drugs to multiple women.
International pursuit and prosecution
After Cumpanasoiu and Stan were arrested, their co-accused Urlateanu and Bugonea fled to Belgium and were later extradited. Dobre was traced in the Czech Republic and brought back to Scotland for the trial.
Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: "This gang ruthlessly exploited vulnerable women for their own gain, without any regard for the suffering and trauma they caused. Urlateanu, Bugonea and Dobre's attempts to escape justice by fleeing abroad failed when police found and returned them to Scotland to await trial."
She added: "For two years, our specialist sexual offences prosecutors worked tirelessly to identify all offending committed and supported the women throughout the process using a trauma-informed approach. These were truly reprehensible crimes, and the victims must be commended for their courage in speaking out."
Support for victims
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Carswell said: "Police Scotland will continue to target criminals who abuse, control and exploit people, working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice, and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need. Victims are often vulnerable, they may be trapped with limited freedom or options, and sometimes they may not realise that they are, in fact, victims."
He explained that victims "seldom contact police directly and quite often come to our attention either through a support agency or when someone from a local community makes a phone call and raises a concern. That call can be the first step in freeing someone from slavery and exploitation."
Anyone with concerns is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sources used: "Crown Office", "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
