The SBU exposed and stopped illegal activity of residents of Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions, who forged passports of the EU countries.

The SBU officers established that the offenders pretended to be travel agents that helped citizens to obtain documents for working abroad. The offenders sold fake ID-cards of several Eastern European countries under the guise of official documents giving the right to stay and employ there. Fake documents cost on average EUR 300-500.

The SBU officers documented the sales of forged documents. “Travel agency” had been operating for about 2 years and forged 20-30 documents monthly before lockdown. Now, their business has tough times.

During the searches in the offenders’ residences and offices, the SBU found equipment used for forgery of documents, copies of document sheet, draft documents, bank cards, mobile phones, as well as other material evidences of involvement in illegal activities. The law enforcement sent all seized evidence for examination.

Currently, the mastermind and one of his accomplices received notices of suspicion for forgery of documents, stamps, seals or letterheads, and sale or use of forged documents, stamps, seals and fraud. The issue of serving notices of suspicion to two other participants of illegal business is being decided.

The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Khmelnytskyi region jointly with the National Police Department of Combating Human Trafficking under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Khmelnytskyi region.