In the Zhytomyr region, a gang of racketeers led by a crime boss known as “Tomato” was uncovered.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police of Ukraine.

“Members of the group demanded fictitious debts from residents of the city of Korosten. In addition, they provided services to “resolve” financial conflicts. Some were asked to pay 500 dollars, while for others this amount could reach 5,000. If the victims did not agree to the defendants’ conditions, they were taken away by force.” their property,” the press service notes.

It is reported that law enforcement officers collected evidence linking the defendants to eight episodes of criminal activity.

“In particular, they took equipment worth more than 300,000 hryvnia from one of the victims, and a hunting shotgun, a chainsaw and a mobile phone from several other citizens,” the report says.

During 28 searches, police seized almost 6 million hryvnia in national and foreign currencies.

The organizer and eight members of the gang were placed under suspicion.

For the crime he may face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Earlier it was reported that the Security Service detained a deputy of the Korostyshev city council of the Zhytomyr region, who was part of a criminal organization in the region. He and a gang kidnapped people and “extorted” money from them.

Also, the Security Service of Ukraine detained a group of racketeers attempting to commit a robbery against a resident of Sumy - according to the investigation, the group was created by an official of one of the departments of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.