The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in conjunction with the Prosecutor-General’s Office, has seized more than UAH 7 million and USD 1 million in cash during 19 searches at the State Railway Administration (Ukrzaliznytsia) and at properties belonging to people involved with the enterprise. The SBU’s head Valentyn Nalyvaichenko announced this in an interview, the press service of the SBU said.
Nalyvaichenko said that a money-laundering syndicate operated in Ukrzaliznytsia for years and that the danger posed by this syndicate was that "criminals in power" inducted every train station, every enterprise supplying the railroad, and insurance companies into a single system for money laundering and embezzlement of public funds.
"More than 100 employees cut off the head of this syndicate in a single day. Investigators documented and seized more than UAH 7 million and USD 1 million in cash, as well as offshore documentation showing the existence of a really huge criminal mechanism, from one member of the enterprise’s leadership alone during the searches conducted today, including seizures from private homes and garages," said Nalyvaichenko.
The head of the SBU also said that this would not be the last special operation and that "other sectors and ministries are in line."
As reported, the search began on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Ukrzaliznytsia said that the search was conducted in enforcement of a ruling issued by the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kiev.
