Moscow, Aug 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Three criminal cases have been launched against transport police officers suspected of extorting money from passengers at Moscow airports, an official said.

"We are investigating circumstances of numerous extortions that took place in all airport zones, starting from entrance and ending with the 'sterile' international departures zone," said Pavel Seliverstov, head of the Moscow branch of the Russian Investigation Committee's transport department.

He said a group of police in Moscow's Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports demanded payment from international passengers to enter the departures zone, threatening them with administrative punishments and deportation.

They targeted drunk passengers from Central Asian former Soviet Republics like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan who had poor knowledge of the Russian language and law.

He said the police officers were charged with swindling committed through an official position.