Large-scale scheme at Chernivtsi customs: HACC imposed a measure of restraint on one of the suspects

Large-scale scheme at Chernivtsi customs: HACC imposed a measure of restraint on one of the suspects

The HACC imposed a measure of restraint in the form of detention with an alternative of UAH 60 million bail on one of the suspects - a co-organiser of the criminal organisation at the Chernivtsi customs.

Given the public outcry, NABU and SAPO are publishing fragments of declassified case materials.

NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal organization that included well-known entrepreneurs from the city of Chernivtsi and officials of the Chernivtsi customs, including its former head, an ex-deputy of the Chernivtsi regional council. Their actions to minimize customs duties under the so-called “gray” import scheme caused the state almost UAH 290 million in losses.

The criminal organisation consisted of 11 people, including the former head of customs Mykola Salahor, sanctioned businessman Yuriy Kushnir, deputy head of the Chernivtsi post Mykola Niculescu, a former deputy of the Chernivtsi regional council and others.

As the investigation established, the participants organized the illegal import of highly liquid goods from Turkey (clothing, shoes, accessories) through the Vadul-Siret customs post, registering the transport with them as empty or disguising them as cover goods (fabric, chipboard, brick) with significantly lower customs clearance. cost.

According to the latest scheme, customs officials, on the basis of forged documents, ensured the extraordinary passage of trucks without carrying out a customs inspection. Subsequently, the transport went to the warehouses of entrepreneurs, where highly liquid goods were unloaded and sold, and cover goods loaded instead were delivered to the Chernivtsi customs post for registration and payment of underestimated payments.

Their actions are qualified under Part 1 of Art. 255, part 2 art. 364, part 3 art. 212, part 4 art. 345-1, part 3 art. 368, part 4 art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

One co-organizer of the criminal organization and four participants were detained in accordance with Art. 208 Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation.

The acquisition of a number of evidence and the establishment of losses in the case became possible thanks to cooperation with the competent authorities of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.