Criminal investigation over suspected trafficking involving sailors

A criminal investigation under the article in the Criminal Code on human trafficking and other illegal operations involving a person has been initiated by the Central Department of the SBU [Security Service] in the Crimea against the heads of one of the Feodosiya employment firms.

The firm offered 17 sailors work as fishermen in Europe however the men ended up in a fishing trawler near Africa and were held on Cameroon and Benine territory. Over several months they worked without pay in inhuman conditions and without the appropriate vaccinations, and therefore suffered virtually all tropical illnesses.

They were freed through a joint operation by several enforcement agencies, however only 15 sailors returned to the Crimea. One died in the Cameroon and another during the return to Ukraine.

As well as the Ukrainian firm, a criminal investigation has been launched against unidentified individuals from a foreign company.

From information at www.5tv.ua