The police have referred the case of nine members of the organisation, who are suspected of sexually exploiting women, to the courts
The National Police of Ukraine have announced the completion of a pre-trial investigation into nine members of a criminal organisation suspected of recruiting and sexually exploiting women. The indictment has been submitted to the court.
According to the investigation, the women were recruited under the pretext of high-paying jobs and were promised substantial earnings. They were subsequently coerced into providing sexual services in exchange for money.
Law enforcement officers established that the group’s activities were organised on the model of a commercial enterprise, with a clear division of responsibilities, an internal hierarchy and a system of control. The organisers coordinated the work of their accomplices, recruited new members and distributed the funds received.
The organisation comprised supervisors of specific areas, responsible for recruiting women, monitoring the quality of services provided, IT support, and the administration of Telegram channels, as well as team leaders and managers.
To disseminate information, the group’s members used six Telegram channels targeting audiences in Ukraine, Poland and Kazakhstan. Through these, they published offers of sexual services and sought out new women to recruit into the scheme.
According to the investigation, the criminal organisation’s monthly income exceeded 10 million hryvnias.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers carried out over 200 covert investigative and search operations, during which they documented the activities of all members of the organisation.
The suspects are charged with offences under articles relating to human trafficking, the legalisation of proceeds of crime, the establishment of and participation in a criminal organisation, as well as pimping or coercing a person into prostitution.
If found guilty, they face up to 15 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The operation to expose the group was carried out by officers from the Migration Police Department in conjunction with investigators from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine, under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
