An attempt to swim across the Danube in Odesa region ends in arrest

In Odesa region, a man tried to bribe a border guard. The law enforcement operation disrupted the deal before the boat set sail for Romania.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police in Odesa region.

Law enforcement officers detained a 48-year-old man who tried to organize an illegal trip abroad for himself, his 19-year-old son, and five acquaintances aged 21 to 39 by offering a bribe to a border guard.

According to the investigation, the man offered the serviceman $6,000 and 900 euros to ensure unimpeded crossing of the state border of Ukraine with Romania by boat on the river.

The border guard did not accept the offer and reported it to his superiors. Police officers together with border guards organized an operation and documented the transfer of money, after which the man was detained. The seized funds became material evidence in the case.

The offender was served a notice of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: organization of illegal transportation of persons across the state border for mercenary motives, as well as offering a bribe to an official for abuse of office. According to the press service, such crimes are punishable by up to nine years in prison with confiscation of property.

The court imposed on the suspect a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 245,000.

Border guards drew up administrative reports under Articles 202 and 204-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses against the other individuals who planned to cross the border. Violators face a fine or administrative arrest.

Recently, law enforcement officers prevented another attempt to smuggle seven Ukrainians liable for military service to Moldova through Odesa region. A 45-year-old resident of Odesa region and a 44-year-old native of Donetsk region agreed to escort men from seven regions of Ukraine via a safe route to the border, where there were no border guards.

Анна Бальчінос