The ESBU in the Volyn transfers six drones used for cigarette smuggling to the AFU

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region have handed over six unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Additionally, the service members received a set of system boards for full functionality, power batteries, and three laptops that can be used for controlling, programming, and processing data from the drones.

These are homemade "airplane-type" and "quadcopter-type" drones previously used by local residents to illegally transport tobacco products to the Republic of Poland.

As part of criminal proceedings, the aircraft and laptops were seized, and they were placed under arrest. A district court ruled to lift the arrest and transfer the property to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to support the defense of the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to the military, drones perform vital tasks on the front line: they help identify enemy positions, adjust fire, strike targets, ensure communication, and support units during combat missions.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article. 199 and Part 1 of Art. Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is being carried out by detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office. Operational support is carried out by personnel of the 6th Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The transfer of property seized within criminal proceedings for defense needs has already become a systematic practice for the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region. Previously, five vehicles were smuggled into Ukraine, and four unmanned aerial vehicles were handed over for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.