SSU exposed and cracked down the illegal scheme of legalization of foreigners. Allegedly, approximately 3,500 foreigners from the so-called migration risk countries crossed the state boarder of Ukraine.

SSU documented that the fraudsters have established companies on recruiting foreigners. Therefore, the foreigners under the guise of foreign students were involved into migrant smuggling for further legalization in Ukraine, or entering the EU countries.

The foreigners from the Middle East and the Central Asia were mainly the clients of the illegal companies.

SSU detected the fraudsters involved into illegal activity of migrant smuggling and terrorist financing.

In Kyiv and Dnipro cities, the SSU conducted several searches and seized the following items:

• computer equipment and data storages;
• false documents (among them of 3,500 foreigners);
• firms` seals;
• a large sum of money.

The investigation of creation a terrorist group is ongoing to prosecute those involved into criminal activity.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Department of Protection of National Statehood jointly with the SSU Office in Dnipropetrovsk region under the supervision of the Dnipropetrovsk Region Prosecutor`s Office.