A criminal group smuggling men to Slovakia was uncovered in Transcarpathia: four organizers were detained

Uzhhorod district became the site of a significant special operation, as a result of which the activities of a criminal group engaged in the illegal smuggling of men of draft age across the border with Slovakia were stopped.

The investigation, which the prosecutor’s office is conducting under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, was carried out on the territory of the Uzhhorod district together with border guards, the migration police, and investigators of the National Police. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported this.

Law enforcement officers conducted eight searches of the suspects’ residences and the vehicles they used for illegal activities.

It was established that four citizens organized a mechanism for the illegal smuggling of men of draft age to Slovakia. According to preliminary data, such a scheme has been operating since at least November of this year.

During the searches, mobile phones, cars, cash in foreign currency, and special equipment for coordinating illegal crossings were seized. Among the confiscated items are thermal imagers, portable radios, camera traps, binoculars, and other surveillance devices.

All four suspects were charged with organizing the illegal smuggling of people across the state border of Ukraine.

The court chose preventive detention for 60 days, with the possibility of bail. For two suspects, the bail amount was 2,498,100 hryvnias; for the others, 1,498,860 hryvnias.

The pre-trial investigation continues, and law enforcement officers are investigating possible accomplices and persons who could have used the services of this criminal group.

An attempt to illegally leave for Moldova was also foiled, as a result of which a group of Ukrainians and their guide were detained.