Italy extradites to Ukraine a Russian suspected of organizing a car theft and ransom scheme
Kyiv • UNN
A Russian who organized a car theft and ransom scheme was extradited from Italy to Ukraine. The suspect created a Telegram channel where he offered to return the stolen cars for half their value.
A Russian man who created a Telegram channel where owners of stolen cars were offered to return them for half price has been extradited from Italy. UNN reports this with reference to the Prosecutor General's Office.
"Following consideration of the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the competent Italian authorities decided to extradite (extradite) a Russian citizen who was wanted for criminal prosecution for a number of crimes," the Office of the Prosecutor General said in a statement.
In cooperation with Polish law enforcement, the suspect, who was detained in Italy in 2023, was reportedly brought to Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the extradited person organized a criminal scheme of stealing cars and extorting money from the owners for their return (Article 27, part 2, part 3, Article 289, part 2, Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The Russian citizen involved a group of people in his activities, who offered the owners of stolen cars to return them for half price in a Telegram chat. If the owners refused to pay the reward, the suspects would sell the vehicle or disassemble it and sell the parts, changing the license plates of the frames, bodies and units.
The victims transferred funds to electronic wallets of various crypto services.
In August 2022, law enforcement officers stopped the activities of car thieves. At that time, more than 50 searches were conducted in nine regions. Five members of the group were notified of suspicion, and the organizer, a Russian citizen, was put on the international wanted list.
A custody with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 15 million 140 thousand has been imposed on him.
