Criminal gang smuggling women from Ukraine into Bulgaria was seized by the National Service for Organized Crime Control. A Ukrainian identified as Vladimir V. and four women were arrested a month ago. The man conned the Ukrainians into Bulgaria with promises of hotel and restaurant jobs. Once in Bulgaria, he took their passports and forced them to prostitute themselves in nightclubs in Sofia. To legalize their stay, he registered them as fake partners in two companies in Pleven and provided them with legal cards for foreigners staying for long periods. A few days later, three Bulgarian partners of Vladimir`s were also arrested. Four Bulgarian and 10 Ukrainian women worked for them in two nightclubs and three rented flats in Sofia. Half of the victims of illegal trafficking have been returned home with the help of the International Migration Organization. Investigation proceedings are under way.