Thousands of Fake Documents for Illegal Migrants to the EU Found in Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine detained members of an organised group, who set up a mechanism in the territory of our state, for illegal legalisation of foreigners for further moving to the European Union. The department website reports this.

In particular, the lawbreakers produced fake EU documents for people from high-risk countries in Central Asia and the Middle East. The Security Service operatives registered more than 300 cases of false ID-cards and foreign passports of the European Union. Also, more than 20 so-called “wholesale customers” of fake documents were discovered in 12 regions of Ukraine.

The average volume of forged documents ranged from 200 to 320 units per month. The estimated number of false documents produced by criminals during the period of activity of this group since the beginning of 2017 reaches almost 4,000.

As a result of a special operation in Chernivtsi, Lviv and Ternopil regions, the Special Service operatives exposed all members of the criminal group, including the “wholesale customer,” who was a National Police officer. The work of the shop of forged documents was blocked.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers confiscated samples of counterfeits, equipment for their production, a large amount of cash obtained from illegal activities, and other items of evidentiary value. All of them will be sent for examination. In addition, five firearms were seized. They had been stored without proper permits and had some signs of redevelopment.

Currently, six defendants have been informed about the suspicion of committing criminal offences under Part 3 of Art. 332, part 3 of Art. 358 of the Criminal code of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the Department of National Statehood Protection of the Security Service of Ukraine together with the DBR under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office.

Natalia Tolub