The Russian Federal Security Service said earlier that more than 20 members of the criminal ring, including the leaders, were arrested in a special operation March 14.
According to investigators, Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Strykanov is the organizer of the criminal group, which was involved in human trafficking and illegal immigration from Southeast Asia and CIS countries to Western Europe through Russia.
"The criminal group involved Moldavians and Ukrainians," the FSB said.
It has been established that front companies were set up in Russian cities using fictitious employment contracts with Russians in a scam designed to obtain their foreign passports, the FSB said.
Criminals subsequently used the foreign passports to apply for European visas, change the passport data and illegally send people to Western Europe, the FSB said.
Six ringleaders, including Strykanov, have already faced charges of human trafficking and organizing a criminal gang.
"Investigative and search measures continue," the FSB said.
