In Luhansk Region, the SBU stopped hierarchical corruption organized by the officials of the Eastern Customs of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.

The SBU officers conducted a set of clandestine investigative actions in order to document the corruption scheme. The evidence show that customs officers extorted money from businessmen for customs clearance of imported consignments.

Four customs officials organized the scheme. They instructed customs officers to deliberately create obstacles during customs clearance. The customs officials directly received money from businessmen for unimpeded customs clearance.

The SBU operatives established that the officials of the Eastern Customs illegally received over UAH 5 million (USD 178,000) a year.

Law enforcement officers detained key offenders after one of the customs officials received another part of the illegal benefit.

Investigation is ongoing. It includes 6 searches and interrogations of witnesses.

Currently, upon the fact of taking a bribe in especially great amount, the issue of detention of the perpetrators and serving them a notice of suspicion is being decided.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Main Investigation Department of State Bureau of Investigation.