Odesa Border Guard Sergeant Sentenced to 2 Years for Smuggling Scheme

In Odesa region, a junior sergeant of the State Border Guard Service was tried for organizing the illegal transportation of men across the border.

The verdict against him was passed by the Kodymskyi District Court of Odesa Oblast.

According to the case, the Border Guard Service inspector offered a citizen to assist in crossing the border of Ukraine to the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic for USD 7000. In return for this money, he promised to ensure unimpeded border crossing, using his official capabilities and awareness of the location of border patrols.

The accused pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement. The border guard was found guilty under Part 3 of Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons across the border) and Part 2 of Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code (abuse of influence).

The court sentenced him to two years in prison, but commuted his sentence to serve in a disciplinary battalion and confiscation of property.

Earlier, Intent wrote that SBI officers, together with the SBU and the State Border Guard Service, exposed a law enforcement officer in Odesa region who organized an illegal business, letting men liable for military service through a transit section of the road on the border with Moldova.

Over the past year, 120 officials were caught smuggling citizens across the border. The most frequent suspects were employees of the TCC, MSEC, doctors and law enforcement officers. In total, during 2024, law enforcement officers investigated 287 criminal proceedings over such facts. Of these, 61 cases were sent to court.

Meanwhile, the SBU detained an inspector of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi border guard detachment on suspicion of organizing a channel for smuggling people liable for military service across the border.

Ірина Глухова