In Mykolaiv, a scheme of illegal sale of humanitarian aid, organized by four volunteers of a charity organization and a local entrepreneur, was exposed. According to the investigation, they sold food kits, provided by the UN World Food Program, in the amount of more than 600 thousand hryvnias.
How did the scheme work?
Instead of handing over humanitarian aid to those in need, criminals removed valuable products from packages, removed the "Not for sale" and "Humanitarian aid" markings, and then repackaged them for sale on the local market.
During the searches, law enforcement officers found:
- about 2 thousand food rations prepared for repackaging;
- more than 6.8 thousand boxes and 200 bags with products ;
- 16 thousand cans of canned food;
- 5 million hryvnias in cash.
The extras were notified of the suspicion under part. 3 Art. 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for responsibility for the illegal use of humanitarian aid for the purpose of obtaining profit.
The total amount of sales confirmed by the investigation is more than 600 thousand hryvnias.
The scandal caused a wave of indignation among citizens, because humanitarian aid is vital for many people affected by the war. The prosecutor's office promises to punish as severely as possible for such crimes, which undermine trust in charitable initiatives.
An investigation is currently underway. The recovered products and money will be returned to charitable funds for proper distribution among the victims.
