According to the investigation, a group of fraudsters illicitly sold crossovers and jeeps, which were imported from abroad as humanitarian aid for servicemen of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

The SSU established that the scheme was organized by two ‘businessmen’ from Zhytomyr and Berdychev. To cover up their actions, they registered a fictitious charitable organization for a front person.

Under the guise of such person’s documents, the offenders imported vehicles to Ukraine as humanitarian aid. After that, they sold the cars with zero customs clearance at average market price.

The SSU found out that the dealers had been selling all-terrain vehicles to the Ukrainian military and local volunteer organizations that help Territorial Defence units and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Using the scheme, pseudo-volunteers sold over two dozen ‘humanitarian’ cars.

The law enforcement detained one of the organizers during the sale of another batch of 4 cars.

During the searches at the homes of the involved and the locations where cars were kept in Zhytomyr and Berdychev, investigators seized items and documents that confirm the unlawful activity.

Criminal proceedings were opened under Article 201-2.3 of the CCU (unlawful use of humanitarian aid for profit). One of the perpetrators has been notified of suspicion.

The investigation is underway to identify and bring to justice all those involved in the scheme.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zhytomyr region together with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office.