In the Chernivtsi region, the head of one of the customs posts was detained, and in the Odesa region – officials of the “Odesa-port” and “Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi” customs posts.

Criminal mechanisms for obtaining money from businessmen and volunteers were eliminated at the Chernivtsi and Odesa customs offices.

This was reported by the press center of the Security Service of Ukraine. In particular, in the Chernivtsi region, the head of one of the local customs posts was exposed on corruption charges.

“For various sums of bribes, he “guaranteed” entrepreneurs not to create artificial obstacles during the customs clearance of commercial cargoes. He involved two acquaintances in the illegal activity as intermediaries to obtain illegal benefits. Among them is a former customs employee who was previously prosecuted for corruption.” – the message says.

As noted, SBU employees documented the fact of handing over the first part of the bribe in the amount of $3,000 to the perpetrators. for the smooth processing of three customs declarations. Law enforcement officers detained an intermediary in Kyiv for receiving $12,000. – the second part of the unlawful benefit. For this money, the official promised to arrange for the entrepreneur a wholesale batch of consumer goods without any extra questions.

It is noted that two persons involved – the organizer of the scheme and his accomplice – were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an illegal benefit by an official).

In Odesa, as informed by the SBU, officials of the customs posts “Odesa-port” and “Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi” were exposed for organizing deals.

It is emphasized that the perpetrators have established a corrupt scheme to receive money from volunteers who bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine for Ukrainian defenders.

“In exchange for bribes, officials promised carriers not to create artificial obstacles during customs clearance of cargo. The amount of illegal profit was from $500 per vehicle. SBU employees documented several episodes of receiving monetary rewards from customs officials. Law enforcement officers detained the chief state inspector of the customs committee for handing over another sum of bribes “At present, he has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the report says.

In addition, as stated in the Security Service of Ukraine, the issue of holding other employees of the management and inspection ranks of the customs post to account is being resolved.

Investigations are ongoing for both facts to identify and bring to justice all those responsible.

Corruption in Ukraine – the latest news

As reported, on February 1, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed the management staff of the Customs Service – Acting Head of the State Customs Service Vyacheslav Demchenko and two of his deputies. New acting According to People’s Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko, the current deputy head Serhiy Zvyagintsev will be the head of customs.

According to the head of the “Servant of the People” faction in the Verkhovna Rada, David Arakhamia, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the deputy head of the State Customs Service, Ruslan Cherkasky, and he has been removed from his duties.

It was previously reported that the State Bureau of Investigation in 2022 exposed crimes at the customs that caused the state losses of almost 400 million hryvnias. In total, SBI employees investigated 576 criminal proceedings for crimes in the customs sphere, as a result of which 156 persons were notified of suspicion, and 110 indictments were sent to court against 119 persons.