NABU: Law enforcement officials helped 'Mexican's' gang kidnap people for money

Shocking law enforcement: access to secret databases for millions

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reported that representatives of a criminal group known as the 'Mexican's' gang had close ties with employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police. According to the investigation, these connections allowed the criminals to kidnap, beat and torture people both within Ukraine and in European countries.

In exchange for this assistance, law enforcement officers received substantial financial payments, including in the form of cryptocurrency. According to the bureau, one such payment reached $1.3 million.

How the scheme for tracking victims worked

Thanks to cooperation with officials from security agencies, members of the group gained access to closed law enforcement databases, search materials and video surveillance systems. This gave them the ability to track the movements of persons of interest in real time.

An SBU employee from the Department for the Protection of National Statehood played a particular role in this scheme, providing access to video surveillance cameras. In parallel, a deputy head of a department of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Kyiv Regional Police, known by the nickname 'Consultant', undertook to 'cover their tracks' during investigations.

Who shielded the criminals

According to NABU, the key figure who provided cover for the group's activities was a Major General of the SBU, who was nicknamed 'Akim' among criminals. He referred to the gang's representatives as 'brothers'.

The activities of the criminal group were not limited to Ukraine's borders. NABU notes that attacks on individuals were recorded abroad, specifically in Vienna. Moreover, gang members promptly received photographs from meetings of European law enforcement agencies dedicated to their case.