"More than 20 criminals, including the ring leaders, have been arrested in a special operation," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement Thursday.
"The criminal group, which involved Moldavians and Ukrainians, was organized by a Russian official," the document said
It has been established that fake firms 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 criminal cases have been opened against the criminal ring leaders. Investigative and search measures continue," the FSB said.
