Smuggling disguised as humanitarian aid for the AFU: ESBU in Volyn exposes illegal vehicle importation scheme

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region have exposed a scheme for the illegal importation of passenger cars into Ukraine under the guise of humanitarian aid for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Subsequently, these vehicles were sold for cash.

According to the investigation, the director of a charitable foundation organized the importation of passenger cars from European Union countries. To carry out the scam, he recruited accomplices who brought the cars from the EU and handled their subsequent sale.

Throughout 2024–2026, over 100 passenger cars were imported into Ukraine addressed to the charitable organization and declared as humanitarian aid. Some of these were placed on temporary state registration, with temporary registration certificates issued to the charitable foundation, and then sold.

As a result of authorized searches, 14 vehicles, mobile phones, charitable foundation documents, ledger records, and other physical evidence of the suspects' illegal activities were seized. Additionally, computer equipment, documentation, and cash were seized at the residence of the charitable foundation's director. By court order, the seized vehicles have been placed under arrest.

The pretrial investigation is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 201-4 (car smuggling) and Part 4 of Article 358 (use of knowingly forged documents) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The full circle of individuals involved in the illegal activities is being established.

Operational support for the criminal proceedings is provided by employees of the Volyn Office of the Internal Security Department of the National Police of Ukraine and the 6th Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Procedural oversight is conducted by the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office.