A scheme for the illegal sale of humanitarian aid organized by four volunteers of a charitable organization and a local entrepreneur has been uncovered in Mykolaiv. According to the investigation, they sold food kits provided by the UN World Food Program worth over 600 thousand hryvnias.
How did the scheme work?
Instead of transferring humanitarian aid to those in need, the attackers removed valuable products from the packages, removed the “Not for Sale” and “Humanitarian Aid” labels, and then repackaged them for sale on the local market.
During the searches, law enforcement officers discovered:
- about 2 thousand food rations prepared for repackaging;
- over 6.8 thousand boxes and 200 bags of food ;
- 16 thousand cans of canned food;
- 5 million hryvnias in cash.
The defendants were informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for the illegal use of humanitarian aid for the purpose of profit.
The total sales volume confirmed by the investigation is over 600 thousand hryvnias.
The scandal has sparked outrage among citizens, as humanitarian aid is vital for many people affected by the war. The prosecutor's office promises to punish such crimes as harshly as possible, as they undermine trust in charitable initiatives.
An investigation is currently underway. The seized products and money will be returned to charitable funds for proper distribution among the victims.
