In Ternopil region, postmen stole drones for the military and sold them online
12 September 2024 02:25
Four residents of Ternopil region stole drones worth almost UAH 6 million from postal parcels. The criminals sold the drones, which were intended for the Ukrainian military, online at reduced prices, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing the National Police.
According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by two residents of Ternopil, one of whom was the head of a post office. He involved his colleagues in the fraud: together they stole drones from parcels, replacing them with boxes of junk of the same weight, and then sold them online.
To legalise the proceeds, one of the participants opened a sole proprietorship through which he received payments.
In this way, the defendants misappropriated the contents of 26 parcels for our soldiers worth almost UAH 6 million.
The National Police investigators and cyber police operatives conducted 14 searches at the suspects’ residences, places of residence and vehicles in Lviv region and Kyiv.
The law enforcement seized 15 mobile phones, computer equipment, 25 bank cards, documents and draft records confirming the illegal activities of the criminals. The police also blocked digital assets on the “businessmen’s” crypto wallets.
The scheme participants were charged under an article that provides for up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The court imposed nightly house arrest and personal commitments on the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.
