The SBU suspects managers of Odesa Customs of organizing a large-scale corruption scheme during customs clearance.

SBU operatives established that the managers of customs clearance departments of “Odesa” and “Chornomorsk” customs were involved in the illegal activity. The first one extorted USD 100 per each container for the delivery of goods to domestic customs without additional checking. If agreed, an importing company was included in the list and its containers passed the customs control without hindrance for a stipulated fee.

The official of “Chernomorsk” customs then deliberately caused problems during the clearance of goods, in particular he delayed its registration.  To unlock the process, he proposed to underestimate the cost of the declared goods. For this, the offender demanded 50-60% of the difference between the real price and illegally underestimated in customs documents.

According to intelligence, the cost of the “payment” ranged from USD 200 to USD 4,000. Part of the money was transferred directly to the management of Odesa customs.

Within the initiated criminal proceeding, SBU officers documented the receiving of USD 800 by the offenders.

Law enforcement officers detained the manager of “Chornomorsk” customs clearance department according to Art. 208 of the Criminal code of Ukraine, after receiving the next part of illegal benefit (USD 1,300).

The investigation is ongoing under P. 3 Art. 28, P. 3 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the detainees is being decided. The type of detention is being chosen.

The SBU is checking the involvement of other customs and law enforcement officers in the illegal activity.

The operation was conducted jointly with the investigators of the Central DBR Office under the legal supervision of the General Inspectorate of the Prosecutor General’s Office.