March 11, 2026, 10:16 p.m.
(PHOTO: TU BEB in Odesa region)
The BES exposed a tax evasion scheme involving corn exports through the port of Odesa. The defendants bought grain for cash and tried to legalize it through controlled companies, planning to send it to Malaysia.
This was reported by the press service of the BES in Odesa region.
In the course of analytical work, the BES territorial office in Odesa region revealed a tax evasion scheme for the export of agricultural products of unknown origin.
According to the investigation, a group of individuals set up controlled companies in different cities of Ukraine. Through these companies, the organizers executed documents on the cultivation of corn, although they actually had no land, employees, or equipment.
In fact, the scheme participants bought grain from farmers all over Ukraine for cash, without paying VAT. To legalize the products and receive a tax credit, they transferred cash in the amount of 14% of the value of the goods to their company accounts and issued tax invoices. This allowed them to circumvent tax control and receive a VAT refund of 14% of the price of corn.
Serhii Muntyan, Head of the BES Department in Odesa region, said that BES detectives stopped the scheme at the stage of preparation for export. According to him, the offenders planned to ship almost 28 thousand tons of corn through the Odesa port worth about UAH 202 million, and the BES intervention forced the exporter to cancel customs declarations, which prevented losses to the state budget.
The pre-trial investigation is currently underway, and the full range of persons involved in the scheme is being identified.
At the end of February, the BES detectives in Odesa region completed the pre-trial investigation against the MP and his two accomplices and sent an indictment to the court. According to the investigators, the men exported timber using forged documents and legalized the money.
Анна Бальчінос