Investigators of the National Police exposed a group of persons in the production of fictitious COVID documentation for more than UAH 3 million per month
Each month, the defendants produced about a thousand vaccination certificates and almost two thousand negative PCR tests. The cost of one certificate was 40 euros, and a negative PCR test cost 600 hryvnia. The attackers face up to seven years in prison.
The investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, together with the SBU staff, exposed a group of persons in the production of fictitious documents on passing the test for COVID-19 and international certificates of vaccination against COVID-19. Documentation of the activities of intruders took place under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Law enforcement officers established that the defendants were looking for “clients” on the territory of Lviv and Zaporizhzhya regions. One international certificate cost 40 euros, and a negative PCR test - 600 hryvnia. Fake COVID documents were sent by “dealers” to “customers” through post offices, and money was received on their own bank cards.
On November 2, law enforcement officers conducted sanctioned searches of the places of residence of the defendants in the city. Lviv. During the investigative actions, investigators and operatives discovered and seized fake international COVID-19 vaccination certificates, negative PCR test forms, and rough accounting. In addition, other forged documents were seized: invitations to work abroad and certificates for state authorities. Police also seized printing equipment, computer equipment and means of communication.
During the investigation, law enforcement found that members of the group produced about a thousand vaccination certificates and almost two thousand negative PCR tests every month. Such illegal activity brought them income in the amount of more than 3 million hryvnias.
Investigators carry out a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Art. 199 (Manufacture, storage, acquisition, transportation, shipment, importation into Ukraine for use in the sale of goods, sale or sale of counterfeit money, state securities existing in paper form, state lottery tickets, excise tax stamps or holographic protective elements) and h. 1 tbsp. 362 (Unauthorized actions with information that is processed in electronic computers (computers), automated systems, computer networks or stored on media of such information, committed by a person who has the right to access it) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The attackers face up to seven years in prison. Further procedural measures are underway to notify those involved of the suspicion and to choose preventive measures for them.
Recall, the National Police registered almost 870 criminal proceedings on the facts of fraud and falsification of COVID documentation.
Communications Department of the National Police of Ukraine
(based on the materials of the Main Investigative Department of the National Police of Ukraine)
