In Lviv region, the Security Service of Ukraine exposed and blocked the activity of customs officials who organized an illegal import of vehicles to Ukraine.

SBU operatives received information that several officials of customs office “Horodok” jointly with customs brokers carried out illegal activity.  

This year, the law enforcement officers have been documenting illegal actions of customs officers for several months. In particular, SBU officers documented receiving a bribe amounting to UAH 410,000 (USD 14,642) by the offenders. For this sum, the customs officers deliberately forged the registration of imported vehicles. They carried out import of trucks under the guise of aggregate parts. According to preliminary data, illegal activity of customs officers caused losses to the state budget amounting to almost UAH 94 million (USD 3.3 million).

During 19 searches of the offenders’ residences and offices, law enforcement officers found documents proving illegal activity, a large amount of cash in foreign currency, the counting of which is ongoing. The mastermind received a notice of suspicion within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated for abuse of office, forgery in office, complicity, forgery of documents, seals, stamps and letterheads. The issue of serving notices of suspicion to other group members is being settled.

Investigation is ongoing.

Additionally, the involvement of other customs officials and customs brokers in the scheme is being established.

The operation was carried out by operatives of the SBU Office in Lviv region jointly with the SBU Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime, investigators of the National Police under the legal supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office, with the assistance of the leadership of Halytska Customs Office.