Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu, Cristian Urlateanu, Remus Stan, Catalin Dobre and Alexandra Bugonea were found guilty on 9 January 2025 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
On 27 October 2025, at the same court, Cumpanasoiu was given a 24-year extended sentence with 20 years in custody.
Urlateanu was sentenced to 18 years in custody with a two-year extension period.
Stan was jailed for 12 years, Dobre for 10 years and Bugonea for eight years.
All five individuals, who are from Romania, 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 a period of five years after his release from prison.
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.
“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.
“Thanks to their bravery, and the support given to them by charity organisations and justice partners, this prosecution was made possible, ensuring other women and girls are protected from these offenders.
"These crimes have no place in society, and I would urge anyone affected by similar offending to please report your experience. You will be listened to and supported as we seek to secure justice using all the tools at our disposal."
A police investigation, dubbed Operation Recloir, was launched in 2021 to target suspected human traffickers operating in the Tayside area.
Officers uncovered evidence of serious sexual offending, prostitution, drugs supply and trafficking during their enquiries.
The offences took place at various locations in Dundee including properties on Bright Street, Gellatly Street and Perth Road.
Following the arrest of suspects Cumpanasoiu and Stan, their co-accused Urlateanu and Bugonea were located in Belgium and extradited.
Dobre was traced in the Czech Republic and brought back to Scotland for the trial, which lasted six weeks and involved 10 victims.
Ring-leader Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu, also known as ‘Mario’, was found guilty of 15 charges including running brothels.
The 38-year-old supplied drugs to and raped multiple women as well as being involved in sexual coercion.
The court heard how Cumpanasoiu trafficked one vulnerable woman into prostitution by convincing her she stood to make large sums of money.
The brothel-keeper then advertised her services online and drove her to meet clients before taking a portion of her earnings.
He was described in court as a “smirking, winking pimp” who funded his lifestyle and drug habit from prostitution.
He earlier pleaded guilty to a further three charges - attempting to pervert the course of justice, knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution and possession of a knife.
Cristian Urlateanu, 41, was found guilty of nine charges including rape, assault, living off the earnings of prostitution and the supply of cocaine.
At the time of the offending, he lived with his partner and co-accused Alexandra Bugonea, who was working as a sex worker.
The court how he used the money given to him by Bugonea to fund his crack cocaine habit and pay household bills.
One victim told the trial how she was lured to a flat on the city’s Bright Street where she described there being an unlimited supply of crack cocaine and whisky.
Games such as spin the bottle and truth or dare were often played, where clothing was removed while Urlateanu asked questions of a sexual nature.
He went on to forcibly rape the woman in a bedroom.
Urlateanu and Bugonea were also both found guilty of raping the same woman together on various occasions at the flat on Bright Street.
Remus Stan was found guilty of eight charges, including trafficking a woman into prostitution with his co-accused Cumpanasoiu.
The 35-year-old regularly supplied the victim with drugs and decided what prices she should charges clients all while making her think he was her boyfriend.
He was convicted of raping the woman on several occasions including one incident where he attacked her alongside Cumpanasoiu.
Stan was also found guilty of raping a further two women.
Catalin Dobre, 45, also known as Luigi, was found guilty of five charges including the gang rape of one woman alongside Urlateanu and Stan.
He was further convicted of attempted rape, sexual coercion and sexual assault.
Alexandra Bugonea, 34, was convicted of five charges. This included providing drugs to multiple women, sexual coercion, rape and sexual assault by penetration.
Police Scotland Detective Chief Inspector Scott Carswell added: “I’d like to thank our numerous partners for their assistance and valuable support for all the victims identified throughout this difficult investigation.
“Police Scotland will continue 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. They 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. If you have concerns that someone is a potential victim, or any information, please report this to police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, so we can investigate and take action.”