“Ticket to the sea” for evaders: in Odesa region, forged documents of sailors were sold

30 January 06:24

In Odesa region, police have eliminated a channel for smuggling men liable for military service across the state border using forged sailor documents. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to the National Police.

Investigators of the Main Department of the National Police in Odesa region, together with officers of the Strategic Investigations Department, exposed and stopped the activities of an illegal business that allowed evaders to travel abroad.

The organizers were two residents of Odesa region aged 62 and 65. The women, using their connections, forged sailors’ documents and helped to arrange fictitious employment on ships engaged in international voyages.

According to the investigation, the offenders offered their clients forged certificates of maritime training and seafarer’s certificates for a monetary reward, which allowed them to cross the border unhindered under the guise of crew members. The cost of the fraudsters’ services was over six thousand dollars.

Law enforcement officers documented a case where one of the women helped a Ukrainian man with military service “officially” get a job as a sailor on a cargo ship that was sailing in the EU. During the searches of the suspects’ residences and places of residence, the SBU seized over USD 180 thousand, mobile phones, forged documents, cars and other evidence of criminal activity.

The organizers were served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons across the state border committed by a group of persons for mercenary purposes) and Part 3 of Art. 358 (forgery of official documents for the purpose of their use by others).

They face up to nine years of imprisonment with confiscation of property for the crimes.

Investigators continue to identify all persons who may have been involved in the scheme.

Дзвенислава Карплюк
Editor