The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police have dismantled a large-scale scheme of illegal trafficking of men of military age abroad.
Almost a hundred searches were conducted throughout Ukraine and 14 people were documented who had purchased a full package of fake "documents" and were going to flee the country. Law enforcers exposed a number of officials who offered their "clients" to leave on the basis of forged documents on their medical unfitness for military service. The SBU seized computer equipment and documents with evidence of criminal activity from the participants of the scheme, and found large amounts of cash in various currencies.
According to the SBU, the management of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyy military enlistment office and the local military medical commission, which acted as part of the criminal group, were involved in organizing the illegal activity.
To look for clients, the criminals organized an extensive network of "intermediaries" operating in Kyiv, Odesa, Vinnytsya, Dnipro, Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr, Lviv and Poltava regions.
The cost of "services" ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 dollars. The amount depended on the fugitive's ability to pay, his place of residence, and the urgency of his departure.
The men were offered to cross the border through the Starokozache international checkpoint in Odesa Region.