The SBI continues to uncover millions of dollars in fraud at Odesa Customs

The SBI notified an inspector of the Odesa Customs of suspicion, whose actions caused the state budget to lose millions of hryvnias from customs clearance.

Before russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, tonnes of goods, including clothing, were imported from China to the Odesa Port customs post in containers.

After the inspection, the products were moved to another customs post, where they were cleared. The illegal scheme consisted of submitting a declaration with shipping documents in which the nomenclature of goods, their quantity and value were deliberately changed in favour of the importers. The Bureau found that thanks to the "help" of the inspector, the businessmen saved the state more than a million hryvnias in taxes on customs clearance of each container.

Other possible facts of abuse by customs officers are currently being checked. The inspector was served a notice of suspicion of abuse of office, which caused grave consequences to the public interest (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The article provides for up to 8 years in prison.

The case is under the supervision of the Odesa Region Prosecutor's Office.