Within the framework of the joint special border operation “West 2023”, border guards of the Chernivtsi detachment detained an operator and a UAV, which was used by offenders to establish a channel for the delivery of tobacco contraband to Romania.

In the course of verification of the operational information, the border patrol of the Krasnoyilsk border guard division, with the force support of the special mobile unit "DOZOR", found the place of takeoff and landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle. A 22-year-old resident of the border area, who was piloting the aircraft, was also detained at the scene.

During the inspection of the makeshift command post, border guards found a drone-type UAV, a package of tobacco products, a laptop with the appropriate software, and replaceable batteries.

The offender was taken to the border guard unit and a report on detection of signs of a criminal offense under Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation for the purpose of selling excisable goods" was sent to the National Police.