In due course of the special operation SBU blocked the activities of three organized groups involved in creation of illegal migration channels in different regions of Ukraine.

In Chernivtsi region, SBU officers exposed three group organizers specializing in the illegal movement of foreigners to EU countries beyond the checkpoints. The cost of the “service” estimated up to USD 3,500,000 per person.

Law enforcement officers detained the perpetrators under Art.208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine in ​​the village of Dyakivtsi on attempt to smuggle two citizens to South Asia.

The issue of serving the detainees suspicion notice of organizing illegal movement of individuals across the Ukrainian state border is being decided.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime jointly with the Main Department of the National Police in Kyiv region under the supervision of the Kyiv Region Prosecutor's Office.

In Kharkiv and Sumy regions, SBU employees stopped illicit activities of two groups that set up smuggling migrant channels from Russia to Ukraine and backwards.

Allegedly, the group included three residents of Kharkiv region. During the year, the perpetrators, using their criminal ties, searched for individuals to illegally cross the Russia-Ukraine border. According to intelligence, the customers were foreigners who stay in Ukraine on illegal basis and representatives of criminal circles suspected of committing crimes in Ukraine and abroad.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The cost of the transfer was USD 1,500,000 from each illegal migrant.

The issue of serving the smugglers suspicion notice of illegal movement of persons across the Ukrainian state border, committed by organized group upon prior conspiracy is being settled.

In Sumy region, three Ukrainian citizens and their accomplices, several Russian citizens, were involved in migrant smuggling.

The members of the group searched for customers on both sides of the border. Later, the smugglers in violation of quarantine restrictions transported them beyond the checkpoints via the green corridor. Moreover, some of them had problems with documents.

Law enforcement officers detained a group organizer pursuant to Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The detainee is suspected of illegal movement of individuals across the Ukrainian state border coordinated by organized group. The issue of serving other group members suspicion notices is being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.