A human trafficking ring smuggling men to Moldova has been uncovered in Bukovina
Officers from the operational units of the Chernivtsi Border Guard Detachment, whilst carrying out operations to combat the illegal smuggling of persons across the state border, received information regarding the activities of several residents of the Khmelnytskyi region who had organised a smuggling ring to transport citizens illegally to Moldova.
Criminal proceedings were initiated on the basis of the border guards’ findings. During the investigation, law enforcement officers established that clients for the illegal border crossing were recruited via messaging apps and through acquaintances. They were then transported to the border zone and given further instructions regarding the route.
As part of the proceedings, law enforcement officers documented three instances of the organised group’s activities.
Recently, two members of the scheme planned to smuggle three more Ukrainian citizens across the state border. They set off towards the border in two cars, but the vehicles were stopped by border guards and all members of the group were detained.
During further investigations, it was established that residents of the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Cherkasy regions had paid 12,000 hryvnias each for the illegal crossing. In the event of a successful border crossing, they were to transfer an additional 5,000 US dollars each to a crypto wallet.
Subsequently, a joint inter-agency group carried out searches at the suspects’ places of residence in the Khmelnytskyi region. Law enforcement officers seized cash, mobile phones, bank cards, laptops and other material evidence. Four vehicles were also seized.
The suspects in the criminal proceedings have been detained. They have been notified of the charges against them under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court has ordered the suspects to be remanded in custody.
Efforts are currently underway to establish the whereabouts of the scheme’s main organiser.
The operation was carried out by officers of the Chernivtsi Border Guard Detachment in conjunction with representatives of the SBU’s Operational-Coordination Department in the Khmelnytskyi region, investigators from the Investigative Department of the Kamianets-Podilskyi District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Khmelnytskyi region, with the support of the ‘Dozor’ special unit, under the procedural supervision of the Kamianets-Podilskyi District Prosecutor’s Office.
