In Chernihiv region, a suspect was detained for smuggling men across the border to Belarus

In Chernihiv region, a suspect was detained for smuggling men across the border to Belarus

In the Chernihiv region, police officers and border guards detained a man suspected of organizing a scheme to illegally transport men of conscription age across the state border to Belarus. The man was detained on the banks of the Dnipro. At the scene, law enforcement officers seized equipment: a wetsuit and fins.

This was reported by the National Police in the Chernihiv region on its website.

According to the investigation, it was established that the organizer of the channel — a 37-year-old resident of the city of Slavutych, placed ads on the internet and promised men subject to mobilization an opportunity to leave the country and travel to Belarus.

"Subsequently, the man developed a border crossing plan and a movement route to the border area bypassing checkpoints for money. He also instructed on the selection of appropriate equipment. Then the channel organizer escorted the men to the chosen spot on the banks of the Dnipro River, from where they were supposed to swim to the other side of the border. In addition, the suspect sold information about these routes via Telegram channels," the statement said.

Law enforcement officers detained the man at night on the Dnipro coast during his preparation to transport a man of conscription age across the border. At the scene, police seized swimming gear, including a wetsuit and fins.

During the searches, police discovered and seized over 40,000 hryvnias from the suspect. After a sanctioned search at the man’s residence, they seized nearly 30,000 more hryvnias in cash, communication tools, and data storage devices, as well as other evidence. The seized items were sent for expert examination.

Money. Police of the Chernihiv region

The suspect has been charged with organizing the illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, directing such actions or assisting in their commission through advice, instructions, providing means or removing obstacles, committed for selfish motives (part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The article’s sanction provides for up to 9 years of imprisonment with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years with confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation continues.