"Humanitarian" cars for the AFU were being sold in Volyn

 A scheme for the illegal import of vehicles under the guise of humanitarian aid for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been uncovered in Volyn. The vehicles were registered under the pretext of being for a charitable foundation, but were subsequently sold for cash. The illegal activity was shut down by detectives from the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region.

According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by a local resident. To cover up his illegal activities, the man used the credentials of various charitable organizations and foundations.

The suspect involved other individuals in the scheme. They handled the paperwork for moving the cars across the state border, directly imported the vehicles into the customs territory of Ukraine, and subsequently sold them.

As part of the criminal proceedings, ESBU detectives conducted searches at the suspects' residences and on the premises of a parking lot. They seized 10 vehicles imported under the guise of humanitarian aid, documents, handwritten notes, mobile phones, and cash. The issue of freezing the seized assets is currently being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 201-4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – smuggling of excisable goods, namely vehicles, under the guise of charitable aid. The full circle of individuals involved in the illegal activity is being established.

Operational support is being carried out by officers of the 6th Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the SSU Directorate in Volyn Oblast. Prosecutorial guidance is provided by the Volyn Oblast Prosecutor's Office.