As a result of 600 searches across Ukraine, more than 60 suspicions were served on organizers and participants of human trafficking schemes
11 January 11:10
During the day, law enforcement officers eliminated about 50 schemes of illegal border crossing by men of military age in 22 regions of Ukraine. Among the violations detected were smuggling outside official checkpoints, forging medical certificates, false records in the “Shlyakh” system, and other illegal actions.
This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine, Kommersant Ukrainsky reports.
The criminal network was uncovered through the joint efforts of National Police investigators, operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations, the State Border Guard Service, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and employees of the TCC and JV.
The organization of the illegal schemes involved heads of medical institutions, officials of military enlistment offices, medical and social expert commissions and military medical commissions, as well as civilians. The criminals offered conscripts various options for illegal travel abroad, including forged certificates of unfitness for service, fake documents, or illegal border crossing through the forest, river, car trunks, or even in women’s clothing.
Clients were found through friends and closed telegram channels. The cost of such “services” ranged from 5 to 22 thousand dollars, depending on the chosen method. The organizers used the money to buy cars, real estate or transfer it to offshore accounts.
During the searches, law enforcement officers seized lists of trafficked persons for 2024, forged documents, seals of state bodies, weapons, “black bookkeeping” and cash in various currencies. In total, 60 suspects were served with notices of suspicion under Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons across the state border).
The suspects include executors and organizers, including heads of state institutions. They face up to nine years in prison, confiscation of property and a ban on holding office.
The first stage of the special operation revealed a significant number of violations, but the pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officers continue to identify other persons involved in the organization of these crimes.
As a reminder, the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi issued a special order prohibiting postgraduate studies on a contract basis. He made this decision amidst a record increase in the number of men applying for postgraduate studies, viewing this trend as “evasion.”
