In Vinnytsia, law enforcement officers detained criminals who were transporting men across the border by boat

In Vinnytsia Oblast, the police have disrupted the activities of a criminal group involved in illegally smuggling individuals across the state border. The group consisted of two Ukrainians and a resident of the Republic of Moldova. They were smuggling individuals across the Dniester River on boats. The criminals charged their clients between 4,000 and 5,000 US dollars for the "ticket" to the other side.

According to the head of the regional police department, Ivan Ishchenko, the arrested individuals spread information through messengers that they could help men of conscription age to enter the Republic of Moldova outside of the border checkpoint. They discussed the method of exit, location, and the price of their "services" in advance.

On the night of June 6th to June 7th, investigators from the regional police department, together with operatives from the Department of Strategic Investigations and the Migration Police, as well as personnel from the Main Operational Search Unit of the 24th Border Guard Unit, halted the illegal activities of the individuals. Special forces from the KORD unit provided support.

They arrested a 35-year-old resident of Vinnytsia Oblast on the banks of the Dniester in Mohyliv-Podilskyi District on a boat with two "clients."

They also located and arrested a 43-year-old resident of Chernivtsi Oblast, who had fled the crossing point, in the apartment of his relatives in Mohyliv-Podilskyi District, where he had tried to hide.

The group also included a foreign national, a resident of Moldova, who received the evaders on the other side of the Dniester. The final legal qualification of his actions will be determined during the pre-trial investigation as he is currently outside of Ukraine.

Material evidence has been seized, and the criminals have been informed of the suspicion against them. The question of selecting preventive measures for them is currently under consideration. They are detained and held in a temporary detention facility.

The Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office, under the procedural guidance of the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office, is conducting an investigation under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of individuals across the state border of Ukraine). The crime is punishable by up to 9 years of imprisonment.