Transnational syndicate on TikTok: Network exposed in Odesa region for smuggling over 100 draft dodgers across the border

Transnational syndicate on TikTok: Network exposed in Odesa region for smuggling over 100 draft dodgers across the border

In the Odesa region, an international organized crime group was exposed that had established a channel for the illegal smuggling of men of conscription age across the state border of Ukraine.

This is reported by Office of the Prosecutor General, National Police, State Border Guard Service

Members of the criminal group organized the illegal departure of Ukrainian citizens to Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Belarus.

The investigation believes that a 48-year-old resident of Odesa created this group in September 2023, involving citizens of Ukraine and Moldova.

To find "clients," the scheme participants used a Telegram channel and a TikTok page. Through these resources, they found men of conscription age whose departure from Ukraine is restricted and offered to organize an illegal border crossing.

The cost of such "services" ranged from 2,000 to 10,000 US dollars. According to the investigation, the group members converted the received money into cryptocurrency through a well-known online platform.

The organizer, as established by the investigation, acted remotely. His last known location was recorded in Spain. From there, he coordinated the actions of two drivers who transported men to sparsely populated sections of the border.

Then, along the developed route, the "clients" had to walk several kilometers, following the provided instructions. Already on the territory of the neighboring state, they were met by other group members — foreigners who ensured further escort.

In total, law enforcement documented 33 episodes of criminal activity.

Within the exposed scheme, it was possible to prevent the illegal crossing of the state border by more than 100 men of conscription age, the prosecutor’s office says.

Recently, law enforcement conducted a series of searches at the places of residence of the case figures in the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Rivne regions, border guards note.

Currently, based on the collected evidence, three figures, including the organizer, have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, depending on their actions — for organizing the illegal smuggling of persons across the state border of Ukraine, leading such actions, and facilitating their commission by advice, instructions, provision of means, and removal of obstacles, committed against several persons, by an organized group of persons, for mercenary motives, repeatedly.

Currently, the organizer and one of the accomplices are wanted. They were notified of suspicion in absentia.

At the request of the regional prosecutor’s office, a preventive measure in the form of detention with a bail of 10 million UAH was chosen for the third member of the criminal group — a 53-year-old resident of Odesa.

SBGS: "As a result of joint measures by law enforcement, a total of 14 participants involved in the functioning of the specified channel of illegal smuggling of persons have been exposed, of which 7 are in the Republic of Moldova. One of the figures has already been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment (according to UP, this happened in August 2025, the figure is currently on probation - ed.). Pre-trial investigation regarding other involved persons continues. They face punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 7 to 9 years with confiscation of property".