The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has revealed one of the most branchy contraband networks smaggling goods to Ukraine from China, Turkey, Syria, and Western Europe, created and controlled by Dobryaky criminal group, which is headed directly by a lawmaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
According to an UNIAN correspondent, SBU deputy head Tyberiy Durdynets claimed this at an extraordinary session of the working group for fighting against corruption on Tuesday.
According to him, the criminal group organized contraband channels at the western border of Ukraine and in Illichivsk and Kherson ports.
The criminal group has a strict hierarchy, every region subject to the Southern, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv Oblast customs houses, has its chief appointed out of the gang members.
Besides, more than 10 businessmen, including foreign and those registered in offshore zones, were involved in the criminal activities.
According to T.Durdynets, on the whole, Dobryaky have been operating in Ukraine for over 10 years already. The annual losses of the state budget due to their activities make up more than 1 billion hryvnias.
In the course of the investigation, 5 criminal cases were brought, numerous episodes of contraband were documented, corruption ties between members of parliament, law-enforcement agencies, and some judges, were revealed.
