In Zakarpattia region, SBI exposes another scheme of illegal border crossing for men (VIDEO)

SBI employees exposed a criminal group in Zakarpattia region that was transporting men of military age across the state border.

This is the 16th channel of illegal men transfer abroad that SBI officers have uncovered since the beginning of this year.

The scheme was organised by a former law enforcement officer who, through his connections in government agencies, negotiated unimpeded border crossing at a particular checkpoint.

The defendant involved two other people in the criminal activity, one of whom was looking for people to leave Ukraine, and the other was transporting the "clients" across the border. The price of crossing the border was USD 7 thousand for one person.

The SBI, in cooperation with the National Police, detained three members of the criminal group on an attempt to smuggle a resident of Zakarpattia to Hungary. They tried to hide him in the sleeping compartment of the truck, located behind the driver's seat.

The three members of the group were served a notice of suspicion of illegal movement persons across the state border (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 9 years. Motions to impose a measure of restraint on the detainees are also being prepared.

The investigation is ongoing, other cases of illegal border crossing are being identified, and the involvement of law enforcement officers in the illegal scheme is being examined.

The Transcarpathian Specialised Defence Prosecutor's Office of the Western Region is providing procedural guidance.

As a reminder, a law enforcement officer who smuggled men of military age across the border in Prykarpattia region will be tried under the SBI materials.