The SSU is cracking down on large-scale corruption schemes in Ukraine’s state agencies.

As a result of operational and investigative activities at Chernivtsi and Odesa customs, the SSU eliminated criminal mechanisms of obtaining money from businesses.

In Chernivtsi oblast, the SSU exposed the chief of a local customs post on corruption.

For various amounts of bribes, he ‘promised’ entrepreneurs not to create artificial obstacles during customs clearance of commercial cargo.

The official involved his two acquaintances as intermediaries for receiving illegal benefits.

One of them is a former customs officer who has previously been prosecuted for corruption.

The SSU documented the hand-over of the first part of the bribe (USD 3,000) to the official for unimpeded processing of three customs declarations.

The law enforcement detained the intermediary in Kyiv on receiving USD 12,000 - the second part of the bribe. For this money, the offender promised to clear a wholesale consignment of consumer goods for the entrepreneur without ‘unnecessary’ questions.

The organizer of the scheme and his accomplice have been notified of suspicion under the Article 368.3 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an undue benefit by an official).

In Odesa region, the SSU exposed officials of Odesa-Port and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi customs posts on corrupt schemes.

The offenders set up a mechanism to obtain money from volunteers who bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine for our defenders.

For bribes, they promised the carriers not to create artificial obstacles during customs clearance and ‘charged’ USD 500 per vehicle.

The SSU documented several episodes of customs officers receiving monetary ‘rewards’.

The law enforcement detained the chief state inspector of Odesa-Port customs post on receiving another bribe.

The detainee has been served a notice of suspicion under the Article 368.3 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an undue benefit by an official).

The decision to hold to account other employees of management and inspectors’ level is pending.

Investigations into both cases are ongoing.

The SSU Offices in Odesa and Chernivtsi regions carried out the operations jointly with the SBI, the National Police and the Internal Security Directorate of the State Customs Service under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.