Arrests Made in Illegal Border Crossing Scheme
Law enforcement officers, in collaboration with border guards, uncovered two residents of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district aiding military conscripts in illegally crossing the Ukrainian border. The perpetrators, including a minor, charged 7,000 dollars to help a 'client' reach Moldova without using official checkpoints. They now face criminal charges that could lead to imprisonment and asset confiscation.
According to police reports, two young men aged 18 and 17 from the Petropavlivska community conspired with an unknown individual to smuggle a conscript into Moldova, having found him through an advertisement in a messaging app offering paid border crossing services. The 18-year-old met the 'client' in a locality within the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, received the first payment of 4,000 dollars, and sent him by bus to his younger accomplice. The 17-year-old then collected a second payment of 3,000 dollars and provided accommodation until nightfall. At night, the minor was supposed to guide the man to the state border, avoiding checkpoints. However, as soon as the offenders received the money, law enforcement apprehended them.
"Investigators seized a number of pieces of evidence from the suspects that confirm their involvement in the crime, including money obtained through illegal means. Based on the collected evidence, the investigators notified the young men of their suspicion of facilitating the illegal transport of persons across the state border of Ukraine by providing instructions, means, and removing obstacles, in conspiracy with a group of individuals, for selfish motives. Under the sanctions of part 3 of article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the offenders face up to nine years of imprisonment and may be deprived of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities for up to three years, along with asset confiscation. Currently, the court has chosen preventive measures for the suspects: the older one is in custody, while the younger one is under round-the-clock house arrest," the statement reads.
Efforts are ongoing to identify all individuals involved in this crime. The investigation continues.
