The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have neutralized a criminal gang that terrorized residents in the Odessa region. The gang was led by the mayor of a port city within the region.
According to the investigation, the suspects attempted to illegally acquire a local recreational base located on the Black Sea coast. They coerced the owner of the facility into relinquishing 50% of her corporate rights.
Following this, they appointed their own director to the recreational base, who began seeking buyers for the complex. When potential buyers were found, the gang planned to seize the remaining 50% of the corporate rights from the owner.
The investigation revealed that the mayor involved a familiar lawyer, as well as controlled registrars and notaries, to reassign the "seized" recreational base to the prospective buyers.
The law enforcement officers apprehended the gang leader—the mayor—in the act as he received $30,000 in advance from the buyers.
Based on the gathered evidence, the detained official has been charged under Article 189, Part 4 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (organizing extortion of property rights with threats of violence, committed by a group of persons in collusion during martial law). The court will decide on the preventive measure.
The investigation continues to hold all members of the criminal group accountable. The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with property confiscation.
The complex operation was carried out by SSU officers in the Odessa region, in collaboration with the National Police, under the procedural guidance of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
