SBU CI uncovered and terminated illegal activities of an interregional group specializing in forgery and sale of EU passports.

Allegedly, the group included a resident of Rivne city and two residents of Lviv region. The fraudsters acted under the guise of a recruiting agency to work in EU countries. They forged ID-cards for residents of Eastern Europe and issued them as official documents for persons who wanted to work abroad.

Thus, the offenders arranged 5 underground printing houses in their premises in Lviv, Drohobych and several settlements in Rivne region. The cost of a set of forged documents amounted to EUR 300.

During searches at the group members’ places of residence and registration, law enforcement officers found drafts, bank cards and mobile phones with evidence of fraud. Furthermore, office equipment used for document forgery was discovered as well.

The investigation upon the fact of illegal transfer of persons across the Ukrainian state border; forgery, sale or use of documents, seals, stamps and forms is underway.

Measures to expose were carried out jointly with the National Police Department in Rivne region under the procedural guidance of Rivne local Prosecutor's Office.