Nearly 15 draft evaders paid $100,000 to escape Ukraine hidden in sand-filled KAMAZ trucks.

Three residents of Transcarpathia organized the smuggling of 13 conscripts across the border in a truck "KAMAZ." The scheme was uncovered during a special operation on the outskirts of the village of Velyka Palad'. Now, the smugglers face up to 9 years in prison.

Law enforcement officials reported on the discovered criminal scheme of illegally transporting men of draft age across the border with Hungary. Three residents of Transcarpathia, aged 25, 44, and 47, established an escape route and transported draft evaders in a specially modified "KAMAZ" truck filled with sand.

Operatives found that after being transported to the border area, the fugitives crossed the "green" border on foot. Each of the 13 men found in the truck paid significant sums to the organizers, with some settling in cryptocurrency. The total amount for the "transfer" reached 100 thousand dollars.

The arrests took place on the outskirts of the village of Velyka Palad' in the Berehiv district. Three members of the group were placed in a temporary detention facility. They have been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal transportation of individuals across the state border. The offenders face up to 9 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property and a ban on holding certain positions.

Through the icy Tysa and under garbage: what other channels have law enforcement dismantled

In Transcarpathia, four smugglers who encouraged people to risk their lives by crossing the full-flowing and icy Tysa River have been notified of suspicion in a crime. They are involved in the attempted illegal transportation of three men to Romania. For crossing the border in this way, the men paid their "assistants" 8 thousand dollars each.

At the beginning of the year, the SBU and the National Police uncovered three new schemes for evading mobilization in Bukovina, Transcarpathia, and Odesa. The criminals charged from $5 thousand to $15 thousand for their "services." They managed to transport conscripted men by hiding them under construction debris and through "green" areas.

Additionally, the Informator reported how border guards in Transcarpathia disrupted the so-called "vegetable tour" for eight draft evaders who wanted to illegally cross the border and flee to Hungary. The conscripted men from various regions were transported in a minibus by a 63-year-old local resident. He hid the evaders behind a secret wall in the vehicle, placing several bags of potatoes and onions in front of it for camouflage. The escape failed—the State Border Guard Service detained both the minibus driver and his passengers.