A 26-year-old resident of Bucha has been notified of suspicion of organising the illegal smuggling of men across the border. His 46-year-old accomplice, who acted as a driver, has also been charged.

This was reported by the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Both are accused of illegally smuggling people across the border as a group and for profit.

How the scheme worked

According to investigators, the organiser looked for men who wanted to leave Ukraine illegally. He told them the price, explained how to prepare for the journey and coordinated the other participants.

The driver was to pick the men up in Kyiv and take them to Chernivtsi region, where they were handed over to another carrier. From there the route led to a point where a crossing on foot into Romania, outside official checkpoints, began.

The “route” cost 6,500 dollars. Part of the money was handed to drivers in cash and part was transferred in cryptocurrency: according to investigators, 200 USDT reached the organiser’s wallet.

What men were told to wear

To pass checkpoints without trouble, the man was advised to wear a military uniform. At checks the driver was to say he was taking him to training, a firing range or a military unit.

On 7 October the driver picked the man up in Kyiv in a Mitsubishi Pajero and received 1,300 dollars in the car. The man was then taken to Sniatyn in Ivano-Frankivsk region and handed over to another carrier, who, according to investigators, was given another 3,000 dollars.

On seeing law enforcement officers, the second driver tried to flee in an Infiniti and damaged other cars while manoeuvring. The pre-trial investigation continues, and everyone involved in the scheme is being identified.

As a reminder, documents for the house of a Bucha owner who has lived abroad since 2022 were forged.

Nota bene

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