Illegal Border Crossing Scheme Exposed in Odesa Region

In the Odessa region, law enforcement officers exposed a criminal group that organized illegal border crossings for people who wanted to avoid mobilization.

The organizer of the scheme was a 25-year-old resident of the Podilskyi district of the Odessa region, who involved two accomplices in his illegal activity. The criminals used social media to search for clients, offering them to illegally cross the border for a reward of between $6,000 and $9,000.

Law enforcement officers established that the businessmen promised to transport two residents of Dnipro to Moldova through the Transnistrian segment of the border for $13,000.

To carry out the "trip" plan, the men traveled to Odessa, where they were met by two accomplices who then brought them to a meeting with the organizer of the scheme. He gave them instructions for crossing the border, advised them on how to best disguise themselves, and assured them that he would personally drive them to the border.

During a joint operation, law enforcement officers detained the organizer "red-handed" while receiving money from men of military age. His accomplices were arrested at their places of residence.

During searches of the cars and homes of those involved in the case, money obtained through criminal means, vehicles, mobile phones, and other evidence confirming illegal activities were seized.

The perpetrators have been detained and reported to the authorities. Other individuals who may be involved in the criminal scheme are also being identified.

Earlier, the State Bureau of Investigation, with the support of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), reported suspicions of an employee of the Odessa region's law enforcement agencies who was trying to create an illegal channel for transporting conscripted men to the unrecognized Transnistria .

In addition, three employees of the Holosiivskyi district TCP and SS , as well as two civilians, were detained in Kyiv. According to the investigation, they organized a scheme that allowed conscripts to avoid mobilization. In addition, the former head of the MMC, who was previously suspected of similar crimes, was detained, but he continued his illegal activities.