They produced UAVs to transport contraband: law enforcement officers exposed intruders
Law enforcement officers of the Volyn region exposed the “enterprise” for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, for the movement of contraband. The attackers are actively using the latest technologies, including UAVs, to track the actions of border guards and move cigarettes to EU countries. This method of smuggling has become the most widespread in recent times.
As long as border guards use UAVs to destroy the enemy in combat positions and suffer losses, individual operatives use these technologies for their own enrichment.
In the residences and outbuildings of the defendants, 8 UAVs of the type “Airplane” and “Quadrocopter” and a motodelplan were found and seized. Its attackers planned to use it to transport people and cigarettes to Poland.
In addition, during the searches, law enforcement officers found items used in the organization of illegal activities: thermal imagers, binoculars, radio stations, GPS trackers and photo traps. With their help, the attackers tracked the movement of border outfits and coordinated their actions. In addition, border guards seized more than 2 thousand packs of counterfeit tobacco products, a considerable number of modern gadgets and rough records with evidence of illegal activity.
At one of the addresses, a workshop with a full production cycle of unmanned aerial vehicles was exposed, in particular a line of 3D printers that printed components for drones. Thus, dealers have established uninterrupted “technical” support for illegal activities of smugglers. The frames and fuselages of future UAVs and various components have been removed on site.
A pre-trial investigation and examination of the navigation equipment of the seized aircraft are currently underway. The seized UAVs are planned for transfer to units of the State Border Guard Service, which perform tasks as part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The units of the TCC were informed about persons involved in illegal activities. Currently, the possibility of using their skills in countering enemy troops is being studied.
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
