The SSU jointly with the National Police have neutralized a criminal group that terrorized residents of Zaporizhzhia.

The perpetrators created artificial conflict situations and then extorted money from the victims for a ‘peaceful’ settlement. In many cases, a one-time ‘payment’ turned into a monthly one.

If people refused to pay, the criminals would abduct and take them to an abandoned building.

There, the victims were severely beaten and threatened with a ‘slow’ death.

The SSU detained the main suspect and two active members of the gang ‘red-handed’ when they were extorting a non-existent debt from a man. The victim was held in a derelict building in a park.

According to the investigation, the organizer is a Zaporizhzhia criminal, who had spent over 20 years in prison for serious crime, including robbery and kidnapping.

He recruited more than ten accomplices, most of whom had already served multiple sentences for inflicting bodily harm and extortion.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes, the SSU seized weapons, drugs and proceeds of crime.

The gang’s leader and the two members have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 189.4 (extortion, committed by an organized group under martial law);
• 146.2 (illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction);
• 187.4 (robbery).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 15 years in prison. The investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zaporizhzhia region together with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Shevchenkivskyi District Prosecutor’s Office.