Foreigners attempted to recruit police officers to steal $5 million from a farmer in Kirovohrad region

The scheme to steal five million dollars

A group of citizens of foreign states developed a plan to steal five million US dollars. The target was to be an official of one of the farms in Kirovohrad region. The National Police reported on the attempt to implement this criminal scheme.

Attempt to involve law enforcement officers

According to the investigation, the suspects resided in Kyiv. Through acquaintances, they learned that a significant amount of cash was stored at the residence of the farm official and began preparing the details of the robbery. To successfully carry out their plan, the criminals offered two officers of the Strategic Investigations Directorate in Kyiv region to join the conspiracy, promising to split the stolen money in half.

However, the police immediately reported this offer to their superiors and operational officers. Subsequently, they acted under the supervision of their superiors and operational officers, simulating cooperation with the criminal group.

Staged arrest and detention of the criminals

According to the foreigners' plan, law enforcement officers were to detain the farmer on the street under a fabricated pretext, take his apartment keys, and hand them over to the accomplices. The latter planned to break into the residence and steal the funds.

The police staged the arrest of the victim. When the suspects carried out their plan and were leaving the building entrance with the stolen funds, they were detained with the support of officers from the Rapid Response Department of the National Police Internal Security Directorate.

Seizure of items and potential punishment

During searches, approximately one million dollars, weapons, a baseball bat, and tools for opening locks were seized from the suspects.

The suspects face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property for their actions.