Prosecutors of the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, exposed the head of one of the departments of the 31st border detachment.

According to the investigation, an official in Bukovyna accepted an offer of illegal benefits for assistance in the illegal transportation of cigarettes to Romania outside official checkpoints.

It was established that at the end of April this year , a woman who is already in custody in another criminal proceeding turned to him. 

During his investigation, law enforcement officers found that she had expanded her criminal activities and began to organize the illegal movement of cigarettes to Romania as well.

According to the investigation, the woman offered the official cooperation. For each illegally transported case of cigarettes, he was supposed to receive an illegal benefit.

The official agreed to provide official information about the location of camera traps and border guards, determine safe times and routes for crossing, change the routes of subordinates to avoid exposure of smugglers, as well as transport tobacco products in their own car through a stationary checkpoint, hoping to avoid inspections.

In order not to arouse suspicion, the participants of the scheme agreed to transfer the illegal benefit after the transfer of the border guard to another place of service.

The head of the Border Guard Service Department was served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and the organizer of the scheme - under Part 3 of Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. She is in custody.

The border guard was chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention with the alternative of making a bail of more than 180 thousand rubles. UAH. He was also suspended from office.

The pre-trial investigation is carried out by investigators of the SBU Office in Chernivtsi region with the operational support of employees of the Department of Internal and Internal Security of the 31st border detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

According to the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.