A man has been arrested at the border with the unrecognized PMR while trying to transport two individuals for a getaway. He faces serious charges and potential imprisonment.
The illegal activities were uncovered by the migration police of the Odessa region and detectives from police station No. 2.
Police discovered that the 50-year-old suspect acted in collusion with an unidentified person who found clients via messaging apps for illegal border crossing.
Authorities documented the moment when the driver met two conscription-age men in Odessa and drove them to the Podil district, intending to drop them off near the border. After receiving instructions on how to cross the barriers, they were to make their way to the PMR on their own.
However, law enforcement intervened in their plan. With the support of the special police battalion, the suspect and his passengers were stopped just 100 meters from the state border, and the transporter was taken into custody.
Investigators seized the suspect's vehicle and his mobile phone, which contained information of interest for the investigation. The court has placed these items under arrest.
Currently, the suspect is charged with illegally transporting individuals across the border, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. The court has chosen to detain him as a preventive measure.
Investigations are ongoing under the supervision of the Odessa city prosecutor's office.
During the pre-trial investigation, all circumstances of the crime and the full circle of involved individuals will be determined.
Authorities emphasize that criminal liability for crossing the border primarily rests on those who facilitate others in leaving the country through advice, services, or transportation.
It is crucial to note that the actions of transporters can be classified as aiding in the illegal transportation of individuals across the Ukrainian border, for which the Criminal Code provides a penalty of up to nine years in prison.
