In Odesa region, four men were tried to be transported abroad under the guise of military personnel

Police detained two residents of Odesa district on suspicion of facilitating the illegal transportation of men abroad.

According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region, law enforcement officers found that a 42-year-old resident of Odesa district, at the suggestion of an unidentified person, agreed to illegally transport four men with military service from Odesa to the border with a neighboring state for a cash reward of $2,000.

To transport the clients, he engaged two fellow villagers with cars - a 47-year-old man, who was told the purpose of the trip and promised a fee, and a 32-year-old woman, who was not informed of his illegal intentions.

Their passengers, on the advice of the organizer of the deal, bought military uniforms to avoid attracting attention on the road. After arriving at the border, they were supposed to cross it on foot, avoiding border guards.

Photo: National Police in Odesa region

However, the drivers did not take the passengers to their destination: law enforcement officers stopped them halfway. The vehicles were seized from them, and the conspirators also had communication equipment and money.

Border guards drew up reports against the passengers, who were going to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine, under Part 2 of Article 204-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The violators face a fine or administrative arrest.

The men who assisted them were detained in accordance with the procedural procedure.

"Based on the evidence gathered, investigators notified the defendants of suspicion of facilitating the illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by a group of people, for mercenary motives," said Oleh Zhukovsky, head of the Podil District Police Department.

If proven guilty, the smugglers face imprisonment for up to nine years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property. The court has now imposed on the suspects a custodial measure of restraint with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 151.4 thousand.

Кирило Бойко