The National Police have uncovered a scheme involving the sale of humanitarian aid worth 44 million hryvnias
According to the National Police, the illegal activities involved the heads of several charitable foundations, as well as other individuals acting as sales managers, drivers and financial officers. The humanitarian aid was sold at the ‘7 km’ market.
The investigation established that the suspects had set up controlled charitable foundations to receive shipments from Turkey. In customs documents, these goods were declared as humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons and war victims.
After crossing the border, the goods were distributed to retail outlets and sold for cash. In this way, humanitarian aid was used as a commercial commodity.
According to law enforcement officials, the organiser of the scheme is a former customs officer who recruited dozens of people to take part in the operation. Warehouse premises were rented to store and sell the goods.
Police documented numerous instances of the import and sale of humanitarian goods. In total, around 50 tonnes of goods worth over 44 million hryvnias were imported under this scheme.
On 30 April, 71 searches were carried out in Odesa and the surrounding region. As a result, goods, equipment, documents and other evidence were seized.
Three members of the group were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. They were notified of their status as suspects under Part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of imposing preventive measures is currently being decided.
The operations were carried out by officers from the Strategic Investigations Department and the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the State Customs Service.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.
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