Resident of Odesa district is served a notice of suspicion of helping men to escape abroad

Law enforcement officers stopped a Mitsubishi Lancer heading toward Moldova near one of the settlements of the Kodymska community in Odesa region, carrying four residents of Kyiv and Poltava.

According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa Oblast, law enforcement officers found that the driver, in collusion with an unidentified person, helped passengers cross the border outside official checkpoints.

He picked up two clients in Mykolaiv region, two more in Odesa region, and drove them to a neighboring country. It was planned that the men would cross the border on their own from the area in Podillia region designated by the organizer of the scheme.

Such services cost the men USD 2.3 thousand, of which they paid UAH 1.9 thousand in advance and UAH 400 each upon arrival at their destination in Podil district.

Investigators seized some of the previously received money from the driver and the vehicle in which he was transporting the clients.

The man was detained and served a notice of suspicion of facilitating the illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by a group of persons with prior conspiracy, for mercenary motives. According to the sanction of Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, this crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to nine years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years with confiscation of property.

At the request of the investigators, the court imposed on the suspect a custodial measure of restraint with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 242,800.

Law enforcement officers are establishing the circle of people involved in the organization of this crime. The investigation is ongoing under the procedural supervision of the Podil District Prosecutor's Office.

The State Border Guard Service officers drew up reports against the detainee's passengers who tried to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine under Part 1 of Article 204-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (illegal crossing or attempt to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine)

Кирило Бойко