Corruption scandal in Chernivtsi: Deputy mayor involved in illegal cross-border smuggling of men
In Chernivtsi, a scandalous scheme involving the illegal smuggling of men of draft age across the border has been uncovered, with the participation of the deputy mayor of Sokyriany.
According to official sources, officers of the State Border Guard Service, in cooperation with the operational unit of the Chernivtsi detachment, managed to apprehend an individual attempting to smuggle a group of men into Moldova through bypassing official checkpoints.
Investigations revealed the full extent of the criminal scheme, including the involvement of an official who, abusing his position, assisted clients in quickly reaching the border.
It also emerged that the primary organizer, based in Khmelnytskyi, controlled the routes and charged about $7000 per person.
During searches, firearms, hundreds of cartridges, mobile phones, and vehicles were confiscated.
The main suspects have been detained and are now under suspicion within a criminal case.
Additionally, Ukrainian border guards uncovered another illegal channel for men fleeing the country in Izmail, Odessa region—a water-based operation run by a local resident who supplied clients with wetsuits, underwater scooters, and escort to the Danube River.