Customs officer detained in Chornomorsk on suspicion of bribery

An official of the Chornomorsk customs post was detained in Odesa region on suspicion of receiving money from entrepreneurs for unimpeded clearance of imported goods.

This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the head of the customs clearance department No. 6 of Odesa Customs received money for each container and promised to assist in reducing customs payments. Several facts of receiving unlawful benefit in the amount of USD 2.9 thousand have been documented.

PHOTO: Prosecutor General's Office

The official was detained and a request for detention was filed with the court. Possible involvement of other persons in the scheme is being checked. The sanction of the article provides for up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

PHOTO: Office of the Prosecutor General

Meanwhile, in Odesa, a long-running case regarding the disappearance of a large batch of smuggled cigarettes that were material evidence in criminal proceedings has been completed. It is about more than 3.7 million packs of cigarettes worth USD 587 thousand that disappeared from the warehouses after being seized at Odesa Customs.

In early January, the prosecutor of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) filed a lawsuit with the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) to declare an asset used by a senior inspector of the customs clearance department of the Pivdennyi Port customs post of Odesa Customs unjustified.

In October 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption found unjustified assets worth almost UAH 3 million in the family of the head of one of the departments of the Strategic Investigations Department in Odesa Oblast of the National Police of Ukraine. The SBI has forwarded the materials on the identified signs of unjustified assets to the SAPO, and the SAPO prosecutor has already filed a claim with the HACC for more than UAH 2.8 million.

Кирило Бойко