A man was sentenced to five years for attempting illegal border smuggling for $10,000.
Officers of the 7th Border Carpathian Detachment, together with law enforcement, uncovered the illegal border crossing scheme. In February 2024, operatives arrested the man while receiving $10,000 from a client. **The investigation found** that a taxi driver recommended the accused to a potential escapee.
Investigation materials revealed that the accused instructed the men on the route. The group was to be taken to a hotel in the Zakarpattia region and then transported by boat across the Tisza River. Participants were to approach Hungarian border guards requesting refugee status.
**The criminal activity was not spontaneous**: the accused confessed to already having smuggled 12 people. He feared criminal liability, which could ruin his life.
On the day of the arrest, one client refused the trip, and another handed over $10,000, which turned out to be fake. An altercation ensued, but operatives detained the participants. The court sentenced him to 5 years in prison. The accused denied guilt, claiming he did not intend to transport clients but only wanted to deceive them.
The defense requested a lighter sentence, citing the accused’s voluntary mobilization to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the court saw no grounds for a reduced sentence or conditional term. The sentence took effect.