Three policemen from Bender are under investigation for facilitating illegal entry into Moldova of Ukrainian citizens in exchange for $4,000-5,000

Three policemen from Bender are being investigated by prosecutors of the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) officers of the Internal Protection and Anti-Corruption Service of the Ministry of Interior for facilitating the illegal entry into Moldova of citizens from Ukraine for the sums of 4,000-5,000 US dollars per person.

According to PCCOCS representatives, since October 2022 the three policemen had been picking up Ukrainian men at the border on the Transnistrian region segment, following their prior recruitment by other Ukrainian accomplices. They then transported them to Chisinau and put them up in a hotel to organise their departure to the European Union.

“The leader of the three was detained on the night of 4 April when he was transporting two Ukrainian citizens who had illegally crossed the state border. The other two policemen are to be summoned and heard as suspects; and as for the leader of the group, PCCOCS prosecutors are to determine the necessity of applying arrest,” PCCOCS announces.

Law enforcement officers raided the home addresses, offices and cars of three employees with executive positions in the inspectorate with seven searches. As a result, communication devices and other objects relevant to the criminal case were seized, which will be subject to investigation.

Investigations are continuing, during which time the three police officers are presumed innocent by law.