The SSU is countering illegal migration that poses a threat to Ukraine’s national security. In a special operation in Kyiv, the SSU dismantled a transnational criminal group that counterfeited ID cards of representatives of the OSCE diplomatic monitoring mission.

The group sold fake documents to the clients, including natives of states with high terrorism threat, e.g. certain countries in the Middle East. Foreigners used fake ID’s to evade border and customs procedures posing as members of diplomatic mission.

Preliminary findings indicate that hundreds of illegals requested these ‘services’. Using ‘diplomatic’ immunity, they intended to illegally cross state borders of different countries.

The investigation established that the criminal group included several residents of Kyiv. To disguise their activity, they registered two NGO’s and created their websites with names similar to the official titles of the diplomatic mission.

The members of the group charged EUR 1,500 for a counterfeit ID card.  

The law enforcement detained one of the organizers of the group in Kyiv after handing over a fake ID to a foreigner.

The searches at the offenders’ homes, manufacturing and storage locations led to the seizure of computer equipment, communication devices and records with evidence of illegal activity, forged ID’s and seals of NGO’s.

The investigators are preparing notices of suspicion, while the court is to decide on the measure of restraint.

The pre-trial investigation into fraud is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of illegal activity.

The SSU carried out the operation together with the National Police investigators under the supervision of Kyiv Pechersk Prosecutor’s Office.