In Odesa Region, SBI officers jointly with the SBU and the State Border Guard Service blocked another channel for smuggling men liable for military service to Moldova. It was organised by a law enforcement officer.
This was reported by the SBI press service.
In February 2024, the deputy head of a department of a law enforcement agency organised a channel for smuggling men liable for military service outside checkpoints. He involved three civilians who were looking for people willing to leave the country illegally for money.
The official himself planned routes and times for crossing the border outside checkpoints and bypassing border patrols. The dealers took their clients out of Ukraine in their own vehicles. They charged USD 6-10 thousand per person for their services.
According to the investigation, the criminals managed to make money on at least 9 evaders.
The law enforcement officer was served a notice of suspicion of organising the illegal transfer of persons across the state border of Ukraine (Part 3 of Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The sanction of the article provides for up to 9 years in prison.
Currently, the SBI is establishing the full range of persons involved in the fraud. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the official's civilian accomplices is being resolved.