Some 40 Ukrainian citizens were detained in Italy upon charges with illegal shipment of migrants. Vasyl Kyrylych, the spokesman of the Consulate Service of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that on Thursday.
‘According to foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine in Italy, over 2014-2016, about 40 Ukrainians were detained and arrested under suspicion in illegal shipment of migrants,’ he said.
The arrested always reported the same scheme of employment. According to Kyrylych, unidentified persons posted messages about employment in tourism – specifically, transporting tourists by yacht. Those who volunteered were the crew members of yachts, which carried certain individuals – allegedly tourists but, actually, migrants. Eventually, it turned out that the hired men unintentionally violated the law, which is why the law enforcers defined this as law infringement.
The Ukrainian side contacted the lawyers who protected the detainee; they are offered consulate assistance, Kyrylych said.
The investigation into the case is underway.
