The SSU exposed a group of fraudsters who blackmailed foreigner nationals in Ukraine. According to the investigation, the offenders posed as the SSU employees and threatened to deport foreigners unless they gave them bribes.

One of the organizers of the scheme is a Ukrainian citizen, native of Syria.

The SSU documented that this individual convinced a Moroccan citizen to pay him, claiming that the money is for the SSU employees. She was forced to do this to prevent revocation of her residence permit and her husband’s deportation.

The blackmailer was detained ‘red-handed’ while receiving the payment. The detainee will be notified of suspicion, while the court is to decide on the measure of restraint.

Pre-trail investigation into fraud and bribery is underway to identify and bring to justice all the individuals involved in this illegal activity.

The SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security carried out the operation with the National Police investigators under the supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.