BES conducts searches in companies of Odesa businessman deprived of citizenship for smuggling
Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) conducted authorized searches in warehouses, offices and production facilities of legal entities controlled by an Odesa businessman against whom the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) imposed personal sanctions for smuggling. According to media reports, this is Vadym Alperin.
This was reported by the BES press service, Censor.NET reports.
"Earlier, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) imposed personal sanctions against him for smuggling.
On April 14, 2021, his citizenship was terminated by presidential decree.
Despite this, the businessman, with the help of family ties and business partners, continued to coordinate criminal activities aimed at tax evasion in particularly large amounts and legalization of proceeds of crime, including the illegal import of goods into the customs territory of Ukraine.
As a result of 6 searches, the BES detectives seized documents, computer equipment, as well as other items and things of evidentiary value for criminal proceedings.
According to analysts, the estimated losses from the illegal activities of these companies amount to UAH 127 million.
The investigation is ongoing. The full range of persons involved in committing the crimes is being identified and brought to criminal responsibility. Economic and computer-technical examinations are planned.
Prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine are in charge of the proceedings," the BES said in a statement.
The BES does not name the businessman directly, but according to Interfax-Ukraine, Vadym Alperin fits the description. It was reported that on April 2, 2021, the National Security and Defense Council imposed personal sanctions against ten smugglers for the first time in the history of Ukraine, who, according to the special services, are "leaders" in this area, and later President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree suspending the citizenship of Ukraine of Alperin, Araik Amirkhanian and Oleksandr Yerimichuk, of whom Alperin is from Odesa.
