Three men have been arrested in the city of Odessa on suspicion of serious crimes, facing up to 12 years in prison with asset confiscation.

The Odessa District Police, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine, carried out an operation that led to the arrest of the suspects who recently moved from other regions and aimed to profit at someone else's expense.

The criminals attempted to extort $50,000 from a 22-year-old man for a fictitious debt, threatening him with violence. According to Denis Chub, head of the investigative department, the victim was forced to hand over $900 and 1,600 hryvnias, as well as the keys to his car.

They then forcibly took the victim to a rented apartment, threatening him with a gun. Law enforcement intervened just as they were trying to keep the victim captive.

During the search, police found a gun, part of the stolen money, and other items relevant to the investigation.

Investigators notified the suspects of charges under several articles of the Criminal Code, including:

- extortion with threats of violence (part 4 of article 189);

- illegal seizure of a vehicle (part 3 of article 289);

- illegal deprivation of liberty (part 2 of article 146).

The court has imposed a preventive measure of detention without the right to bail. The investigation is ongoing.