A group of individuals will stand trial in Rivne Oblast for organizing a scheme to smuggle goods abroad

Investigators from the Rivne Regional Police, in collaboration with the Department of Internal Security and border guards, have completed the pre-trial investigation and referred the case files regarding four members of a criminal group to the court. 

This was reported by the Rivne Regional Police.

The perpetrators devised and carried out a scheme to illegally transport citizens of draft age out of the country for financial gain.

The investigation established that four residents of the Sarny District and their accomplice organized an illegal business, charging $16,000 for the transfer of two conscripts. The suspects provided clients with detailed instructions via messaging apps, coordinated money transfers, helped them bypass official checkpoints, and arranged for the men to be driven by car to the starting point of a walking route near the border.

Currently, four suspects, who previously exercised their right to post bail after being held in custody, are awaiting a court verdict. Their 27-year-old accomplice managed to evade the investigation and is currently officially listed on the international wanted list. All members of the group have been notified of charges under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for severe punishment for organizing and facilitating the illegal crossing of the border.

In Kharkiv, a scheme to illegally smuggle conscripts abroad was uncovered, involving an employee of the Territorial Recruitment Center and a former “Berkut” officer. According to the investigation, they promised to arrange travel to Slovakia for $18,000.

The SBU detained the head of the Medical Examination Commission in Kropyvnytskyi for selling disability certificates.