SBI Exposed Scheme of Men’s Trafficking to EU for Crypto Assets

• In Zakarpattia, a military officer was exposed who was transporting men abroad for payment via crypto wallets.
• The cost of the route was $2,000.
• He faces up to nine years in prison.

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), together with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Internal Security of the Border Guard Service, exposed a group leader of a unit in Zakarpattia who helped men of military age illegally cross the border with Romania in exchange for money. He was using cryptocurrencies and virtual wallets for conspiracy.

According to the investigation, the serviceman used official information and offered his familiar “client” an illegal trip to Europe worth $2,000. The communication took place on Telegram, where messages automatically disappeared, and he demanded payment in cryptocurrency, avoiding banking transactions.

After receiving the funds, the military officer transferred them to another wallet through a “well-known crypto-exchange service” to make the transaction anonymous. He then sent a file with instructions, routes, coordinates and tips on how to avoid border controls.

He also warned that “the walking route could take five to six days” and advised against crossing the border alone.

The law enforcement officer is charged under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (organization of illegal border crossing by an official for mercenary motives) and Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obtaining undue advantage).

The sanction provides for up to nine years in prison. Investigators have already filed a request for detention, and the investigation is ongoing to identify other possible participants in the scheme. Procedural guidance is provided by the Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office of the Western Region.

In March 2024, in Odesa region, police exposed a channel for smuggling conscripts to Moldova, where payment was also accepted in cryptocurrency. The cost was $5,300 per person, and a group of eight people was detained 500 meters from the border.