Ukrainian police open investigation into abduction of cash-in-transit guards in Hungary

Ukraine's National Police have opened criminal proceedings into the abduction of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and an Oschadbank service vehicle in Hungary.

Source: Ukraine's National Police on Facebook

Quote: "Officers from the International Police Co-operation Department of the National Police of Ukraine have officially contacted Europol, Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration and the police through official channels and are coordinating actions aimed at establishing all the facts related to the incident. Investigative actions are ongoing."

Details: The abduction was recorded in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful deprivation of liberty or kidnapping) and Article 147 (hostage taking).

Background:

• On Friday 6 March, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary reported the seizure of the cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, saying the operation was carried out in cooperation with TEK "on suspicion of money laundering".
• It was claimed that among those detained was a former general of a Ukrainian security service who was overseeing a shipment consisting of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.
• The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report that Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency had been seized. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described these actions as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.
• Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration reported the seizure of cash-in-transit vehicles and bank employees from Ukraine, stating that the detention was carried out "on suspicion of money laundering".
• Hungarian authorities said they plan to expel seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers who were earlier detained by officers of Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration.

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