Odesa: Case of foreigner suspected of trafficking men across the border sent to court

Investigators have completed a pre-trial investigation against a 27-year-old citizen of a neighboring country and sent to court charges of facilitating the illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine.

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

The foreigner was detained in June, and during the pre-trial investigation, police found that, acting in collusion with an unidentified person who was looking for men who were liable for military service and wanted to illegally leave Ukraine, the foreigner transported them by car to border settlements in Odesa region to escape to Moldova. The service cost 8 thousand dollars.

The police documented how the offender, according to his assigned role, met with an Odesa resident in the regional center, advised him on further actions and drove him to one of the settlements of Podilskyi district bordering Moldova.

Upon arrival, the foreigner received $500 from the client and provided him with temporary housing. Later, the Odesa resident was to receive detailed instructions from the carrier's accomplice on how to cross the border to avoid border guards, and transfer the rest of the agreed amount.

As material evidence, the police seized the illegally obtained money, mobile phones and the car used to transport the conscript. The property was seized by court order.

The maximum penalty for the crime charged against the foreigner is nine years in prison with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property. However, the court still has to find him guilty.

Кирило Бойко