SBU revealed that the head of the Kyiv Customs post regularly extorted money from importers.

The SBU operatives recorded the corruption scheme was organized by the official. For certain amounts of money, he promised businessmen unhindered passage of cargo clearance at customs. Icase of refusal, the official threatened to delay the customs clearance procedures and increase the customs value without any basis. Allegedly, the smuggler acted in collusion with customs officers of the Kyiv Customs Tariff Department.

Law enforcement officers detained the suspect under Art.208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine on receiving the bribe “to settle” customs clearance of industrial equipment imported into Ukraine.

The criminal proceedings were initiated upon the fact of receiving a bribe in especially great amount by an official. The issue of serving the detainee a suspicion notice and choosing a type of detention is being resolved.

SBU officers investigated the possible involvement of other officials and heads of Kyiv Customs in the illegal activities.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by officers of the SBU Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime jointly with the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation in the city of Khmelnytskyi under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.