The SBU blocked the activity of an organized criminal group that abducted and illegally imprisoned citizens under the guise of addiction treatment service. During a special operation, the SBU released 145 people from the so-called rehabs in Rivne and Ternopil regions.

Allegedly, the criminal group comprised 24 residents from different regions, among them were individuals previously convicted of felonies. During 2019-2020, the offenders accepted “orders” from the relatives of people suffering from drug, alcohol or other addiction for their compulsory treatment. The criminal group abducted their “patients” and took them to special rooms arranged in six rented houses in violation of sanitary standards.

The offenders forbad the victims to move freely and coerced them to work at different construction sites. They tortured and used physical violence to those who violated the regime.

The SBU detained a mastermind and active group members in accordance with Art. 208 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Also, the law enforcement officers carried our nearly 30 searches at offenders’ residences and places of illegal detention.

The SBU served notices of suspicion to 24 detainees for torture and illegal confinement or abduction of people. Custody is being chosen as the type of detention.

The special operation was conducted jointly with the National Police under the legal supervision of Prosecutor’s Office of Rivne region.