On the border with Slovakia, border guards of the Chop detachment uncovered a scheme for the illegal trafficking of men of military age. A priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was involved in the transaction. This was reported by the State Border Guard Service.
In the Uzhhorod district, border guards stopped a Mercedes car that was moving towards the state border. Behind the wheel was a 50-year-old monk from one of the monasteries in Transcarpathia.
During the inspection of the vehicle, law enforcement officers found a "passenger" - a 41-year-old resident of Sumy region. He was hidden in the back seat under the cassocks so that he could reach the checkpoints unnoticed.
The priest admitted that he agreed to help the man for a reward of 10 thousand US dollars. He picked up the "client" in Kyiv and planned to take him to the border. The final payment was to take place after the successful crossing of the state border.
The National Police investigative and operational group was called to the scene. The monk's actions are seen as signs of a crime stipulated in Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - illegal smuggling of persons across the state border. The sanction of the article provides for seven to nine years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Regarding the "passenger", materials have been drawn up under Article 204-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses - illegal crossing or attempted illegal crossing of the state border.
