In Mykolaiv region, the SSU exposed the activity of an international criminal group. The perpetrators recruited Ukrainian sailors and forced to smuggle migrants from Central Asia to EU countries.

Allegedly, the illegal scheme was organized by a citizen of Ukraine and his accomplice from the Republic of Turkey.

Victims of the perpetrators were mostly residents of southern regions, who had problems with sailing permits. They were promised high-paying vessels jobs abroad. Having agreed, sailors were paid USD 3,000 in advance to confirm the reliability of the company.

However, sailors were recruited for smuggling migrants from Central Asia to the EU.

Such crimes are punishable by up to 20 years in prison in the EU countries. As a result, some Ukrainian sailors received long prison terms instead of high profits.

According to the investigation, at least 6 individuals were involved in recruiting activity.

An organizer of the scheme was a foreigner, who paid USD 7,000 to his Ukrainian partner for one recruited sailor. USD 3,000 were paid to the sailor, and the rest of money was distributed between the offenders.

The perpetrators recruited five groups of Ukrainians abroad. At least five sailors are imprisoned in EU countries.

SSU officers detained two recruited persons in the Mykolaiv international airport after passing the border control.

One of the organizers and his accomplice are currently detained. They received suspicion notices of human trafficking.

The operation was carried out jointly with the investigators of the Main Department of National Police under the supervision of the Mykolaiv District Prosecutor's Office.