Corruption scheme at Odesa customs is eliminated: SSU detains two officials. PHOTOS
The Security Service of Ukraine eliminated a corruption scheme operating at Odesa Customs. Two officials face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.
This was reported by the SSU Office in the Odesa region, Censor.NET reports.
As noted, as a result of complex measures, two customs officials were detained.
It was established that the illegal mechanism was organised by the chief state inspector of one of the customs posts. The official set up a scheme to systematically extort bribes for unimpeded movement of consumer goods across the customs border.
He involved his colleague, a customs inspector from a neighbouring state, in the illegal activity, who acted as an intermediary to conduct "negotiations" with importers and transfer the bribes received. In the event of non-payment, carriers were expected to undergo "additional" inspections of cargo and supporting documentation. This led to artificial delays in customs control and, as a result, disrupted the importers' contractual obligations to deliver products to customers on time.
The SSU operatives detained both criminals red-handed while receiving a $5000 bribe for facilitating the import of a batch of mobile device components. Earlier, law enforcement officers documented another fact of receiving illegal benefit by the offenders.
The two customs officers were served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).
During the searches at the residence of the Odesa Customs official and in his car, law enforcement officers found cash in various currencies totalling over UAH 3.5 million in the hryvnia equivalent.
An investigation is underway to bring to justice all those involved in the corruption scheme. The offenders face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.
