Five Suspects Arrested in Extortion Case in Odesa Region
Five suspects have been charged, all currently in custody. Each could face up to 12 years in prison with asset confiscation.
The operation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region in cooperation with police investigators under the guidance of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office.
According to law enforcement, a 26-year-old resident of Odesa, with a criminal record, led a gang focused on extorting money from citizens. He recruited four men aged between 22 and 33, two of whom also had criminal histories.
The group leader was responsible for identifying potential victims and monitored the extortion process through audio and video calls, distributing the illegally obtained funds among his accomplices. The latter would threaten victims with physical harm if they failed to pay supposed debts.
Police documented instances of extortion from three local residents. One victim was forced to hand over $600, of which $300 was collected. Another lost 8,000 hryvnias, while a third was presented with a bogus debt of $10,000, from which part was taken immediately.
The perpetrators were caught red-handed while receiving a second installment of $7,000 from the last victim.
During authorized searches, mobile phones and SIM cards that confirmed their criminal activities were seized. Illegally obtained money from the last extortion was also collected as evidence.
The suspects have been formally charged with extortion and other offenses. The maximum penalty they face is 12 years of imprisonment.
The court has set preventive measures for the four detainees, ordering them to be held without bail. Investigations are ongoing.
