In the Odessa region, border guards intercepted a vehicle that was completely filled with men of draft age.
According to a statement from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU), the driver and 10 passengers intended to illegally cross the border into Moldova and had contacted an organizer via a Telegram channel for assistance.
"For the 'help', each individual was required to pay between $7,000 and $10,000 to a cryptocurrency wallet, but the plan was thwarted thanks to the vigilance of the border guards," the statement said.
The SBGSU noted that the driver now faces criminal charges, while the passengers could face administrative penalties.
Smuggling Draft Dodgers Abroad
Earlier, in Transcarpathia, a 25-year-old paramedic was suspected of organizing a scheme for smuggling men across the border. Police reported that the medic was transporting men of draft age almost to the border with Slovakia. Using flashing lights, he was able to pass by law enforcement without any issues, avoiding official checkpoints.
Five kilometers from the border, he would drop off the draft dodgers and instruct them on how to cross into the neighboring country. For his services, the man charged no less than $3,000 per person. The paramedic was caught in the act when he attempted to transport two men once again.