Odesa Criminal Group Posed as Police to Extort ₴79K from Victims

In Odesa, a criminal group of four people was put on trial, who, under the guise of police officers and the CCC, intimidated victims with forced mobilization and then extorted bribes from them.

Intent wrote about their detention in November 2024.

According to updated information from the prosecutor's office, the indictment against four members of the organized criminal group was submitted to court.

The criminals tracked down the men, posed as police officers and TCC officers, demanded to see military IDs, and threatened to take them to the TCC. In case of refusal, they intimidated them, demanding money to solve the problem.

The offenders received UAH 38 thousand from one victim and UAH 41 thousand from another. After receiving the money, they assured that the victims' data would be entered into the Oberig database, which allegedly guarantees avoidance of mobilization. They were detained while extorting 4000 UAH and 3000 USD in November 2024.

During the searches, military clothing, money, weapons and other material evidence were seized from them.

The prosecutor's office noted that all the defendants, including those with criminal records and a former law enforcement officer, are currently in custody.

Recently, the SBU and the National Police exposed a Russian agent who was preparing a terrorist attack in southern Ukraine on behalf of the enemy. The saboteur was a 20-year-old drug addict from Odesa region who was recruited by the FSB through a Telegram channel looking for "easy" money.

SBI officers jointly with border guards detained an official of Odesa region law enforcement agency on suspicion of setting up a scheme of illegal transportation of men liable for military service across the state border to the Republic of Moldova.

Ірина Глухова