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Smuggling continues to be a pressing issue in 2026, with various schemes uncovered across Europe and Ukraine. In Volyn, Ukraine, a car-selling scheme involved importing cars as humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces but selling them instead. Estonia allowed the Baltic Spirit ship, initially suspected of drug smuggling, to sail to Russia. Meanwhile, in Germany, journalists exposed a scheme violating EU sanctions by smuggling bedding to Russia. These incidents highlight the challenges authorities face in deterring such activities, as well as the ongoing effort to bring perpetrators to justice. Ranging from fraudulent car imports to hidden drugs, the smuggling issue remains complex and far-reaching.
What recent smuggling schemes have been exposed in Ukraine?
Recent smuggling schemes in Ukraine include a fraudulent operation in Volyn where passenger cars were illegally imported under the guise of humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces, but were instead sold, and a separate incident involving concealed Apple devices worth over 35 million hryvnias being smuggled at the Nizhankovychi checkpoint.
How was the Baltic Spirit ship incident resolved in Estonia?
The Baltic Spirit ship, initially detained by Estonian authorities on suspicion of drug smuggling, was ultimately allowed to continue its journey to Russia after investigations. The decision reflects the complexities of international logistics and law enforcement coordination in smuggling cases.
What illegal activity was uncovered involving deliveries from Germany to Russia?
Journalists in Germany revealed a sophisticated smuggling scheme involving illegal parcel deliveries to Russia, which breached European Union sanctions. This exposure highlights the ongoing challenges and dynamic strategies employed to bypass international trade restrictions.
How did Ukrainian authorities address the smuggling of high-value electronics?
Ukrainian border guards discovered a large-scale smuggling attempt at the Nizhankovychi checkpoint, where Apple devices worth over 35 million hryvnias were concealed in a vehicle's undercarriage. The suspects were apprehended, and the operation underscores the vigilance required at border checkpoints to mitigate such risks.
What actions have European authorities taken against smuggling to Russia?
Authorities across Europe have been tackling smuggling to Russia through various measures, including detaining ships like the Baltic Spirit, exposing large smuggling rings, and monitoring illegal activities that breach sanctions. These efforts are crucial in maintaining regional security and economic integrity.
TOP news smuggling
Luhansk Governor Tuka says he knows who shot down anti-corruption unit Head of the Luhansk regional military civil administration Heorhii Tuka announced that the anti-corruption flying squad was killed not by mercenaries, but by smuggling high-profile Ukrainian officials and military. 187 933 498 Previously in trend: Fighting corruption in Ukraine
Batch of caviar worth of almost $500,000 destroyed with dozer in Russia's Khabarovsk. VIDEO According to a ruling of a court in the Khabarovsk Territory, the Russian police have destroyed 511 kilograms of smuggled caviar. 78 330 462
Crimean Tatars to put embargo on goods flow to Crimea by late September Chairman of the Mejlis (Assembly) of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov said that Crimean Tatars will embark on blocking Crimea from the mainland Ukraine in a bid to find tools to protect its citizens living on the peninsula. 98 691 427 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
No trucks crossed administrative border with Crimea over past week, - Chubarov on blockade's first results There is no more smuggling to Crimea. 46 160 426 Previously in trend: Blockade of Crimea
Seven police officers hospitalized after conflict with amber miners in Rivne region, - National Police Seven police officers received injuries as a result of a clash with amber diggers in the Rivne region. 95 794 367
Activists block trains delivering goods from occupied area in Luhansk region, - MP Parasiuk. PHOTO A group of people including anti-terrorist operation (ATO) veterans and volunteers blocked freight trains delivering commodities by the railroad track connecting the occupied territory of the Luhansk region and the town of Shchastia. 107 061 335
Border area in Zakarpattia controlled by criminal groups, not authorities. VIDEO Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine have found a “private” section of the border between Ukraine and Hungary in the course of a special operation in Ukrainian Zakarpattia region. 118 939 279
Poroshenko Hardly Critisized Security Officials for Sluggish Contraband Control: Import Schemens Exist Under Your Shelter President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko sharply critisized the work of the Security Service of Ukraine, customs services, the State Border Service of Ukraine, and police in the segment of contraband control. 103 244 263
Luhansk governor Tuka pushes for "LPR" blockade: Luhansk situation is no different from Crimea Head of the Luhansk military civil administration Heorhii Tuka does not understand why no trade blockade is applied to the terrorist-occupied Donbas areas. 77 213 263 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas Tuka in the Luhansk region
Taxmen detained dozen of vehicles carrying food and cigarettes for “LPR” militants. PHOTOS In the Luhansk region, the combined mobile team consisting of officers from the Phantom tax police detachment, the SBU, and the Military Prosecutor's Office arrested a batch of food and cigarettes which was destined for the militants in the occupied territory. 54 303 244
Moskal asks Hroisman for dismissal: "Smuggling can't be defeated when central authorities try to revive shadow schemes". DOCUMENT (in Ukrainian) Head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Hennadii Moskal has addressed Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroisman with an official letter where he warns against the negative processes that begin to recommence in the Zakarpattia region at the initiative of certain central authorities. 106 156 237
Illegal traffic through Odesa customs to be stopped in 100 days, Governor Saakashvili says Odesa governor Mikheil Saakashvili promises reforms at the Odesa customs office, which will stop illegal trafficking in the region within 100 days. 45 111 226 Previously in trend: Odesa Governor Saakashvili
Poroshenko calls on Security Service, Internal Ministry and Customs Office to stop the "ongoing smuggler feast" at Ukraine's western border President Petro Poroshenko called on Security Service, Internal Ministry and Customs Office of Ukraine to put an end to smuggling at the country's western border. 40 698 198
#BlokadaChallenge: 58th Brigade soldiers encourage SBU to ‘stop 22 profiteers’ trains’. VIDEO Members of the 16th Battalion of the 58th Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces filmed themselves doing 22 push-ups in front of the train they had blocked in the Donbas. They called on members of the Security Service of Ukraine to join the action they called #BlokadaChallenge encouraging the law enforcers to ‘stop 22 profiteers’ trains’. 67 325 185 Previously in trend: Blockade of "DPR/LPR"
Border Guards caught their command covering smuggling in ATO area. VIDEO The border guards caught their commanders running protection racket of scrap metal smuggling. And now the soldiers suspect that the case against the servicemen-smugglers may be softpedaled. 124 398 178 Previously in trend: War
Tax police arrested 20 trucks with goods smuggled for "DPR" In the Donetsk region, Phantom tax police special unit together with the Security Service and border guards detained 20 trucks with products going to Russian-occupied territories. 35 224 169
"Black Hundred" to be formed to combat smuggling, Hroisman says The Cabinet of Ministers intends to establish an authority to combat smuggling. 37 080 161
Yatseniuk says Mukacheve police to be brought to justice Ukraine's PM promised to prosecute Mukacheve law enforcers who supported smugglers and contraband. 27 862 156 Previously in trend: Mukacheve shooting
Leadership of State Fiscal Service of Transcarpathian customs office suspended for the time of official investigation Senior officers of the Transcarpathian Customs have been ousted. 28 248 138 Previously in trend: Mukacheve shooting
Tax authorities discovered a large consignment of illegal cigarettes in Zakarpattia region. PHOTOS The State Fiscal Service, together with the SBU prevented an attempt to smuggle counterfeit cigarettes into the EU. 30 124 138
Poroshenko explained why he dismissed Nalyvaichenko: "Poor results in the fight against corruption and smuggling" According to Poroshenko, the main reason for sacking Valentyn Nalyvaichenko from the post of the SBU chairman was unsatisfactory results in the fight against corruption. 17 224 136 Previously in trend: Nalyvaichenko - Prosecutor's Office conflict over oil depot
Interior Minister Avakov announces crackdown on smugglers: "Budget to get additional $4 billion" Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov believes smuggling should be criminalized again. 29 699 135
SBU checks whether Mercedes owned by PM’s wife was properly customs-cleared, Hroisman connects it with response to recently launched anti-smuggling campaign. DOCUMENT Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) requested the Zhytomyr customs office to submit papers necessary to check customs clearance of Mercedes purchased by prime minister’s wife Olena Hroisman in 2017. 26 394 131
Poroshenko Creates Secret Group to Oversee Work of Customs and Tax Division President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko established a high-level secret group to monitor and control the activities of the customs and the fiscal service. 31 595 126
Rada regulation committee supported lifting immunity of MP Dobkin. PHOTOS The regulation committee of the Verkhovna Rada finished yesterday considering the motion of Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yurii Lutsenko on prosecution, detention, and arrest of Opposition Bloc MP Mykhailo Dobkin. 36 341 120
"You have one month to show results," - Hroisman discussed measures against smuggling with Moskal and Nasirov Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroisman met with Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Head Hennadii Moskal and State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Chairman Roman Nasirov. 22 640 114 Previously in trend: Moskal in Zakarpattia Hroisman's Cabinet
Man tried to smuggle 850,000 hryvnia from Russia to Ukraine to support terrorists – SBU. PHOTOS In the Kharkiv region, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with border guards and customs officers, prevented smuggling of a significant sum of money to Ukraine. 9 742 112
Militants' major supply chain liquidated in ATO area, - State Fiscal Service. PHOTOS A few hours ago, the tax police jointly with the SBU Special Operations Center under the coordination of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) Staff conducted a raid in the gray area, eliminating a major supply chain of pro-Russian militants. 103 307 112 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
SSU and Spanish law enforcement officers detained smugglers who wanted to sell Ukrainian "Scythian gold" for more than 60 million euros in Madrid. PHOTOS The Security Service of Ukraine jointly with the BES and the police of the Kingdom of Spain neutralised a transnational criminal group that illegally exported "Scythian gold" products from Ukraine for sale in the EU. 14 944 108
SBU seized equipment and amber-work worth $1 million. PHOTOS Today in Rivne the SBU and the State Fiscal Service seized equipment to manufacture amber products, as well as amber-work worth over $1 million. 30 806 106
"Soon Tsariov Will Snort Again Grieving His Personal Funds Loss" - Border Guards Seized $ 2.8 Million from a Resident of Dnipropetrovsk Going to Russia. VIDEO Officers of the State Border Guard checkpoint Goptovka detained the car, in which they found $ 2.8 million. 109 776 105
Fiscal Service suspends management of Odesa customs The State Fiscal Service suspended management personnel of the Odesa customs from their duties. 33 219 103
Only border guards and customs officers can be present at demarcation line checkpoints; smuggling must be stopped, - Poroshenko President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting on the fight against corruption and smuggling along the demarcation line, during which a decision was taken to let only border guards and customs officers to the demarcation line checkpoints. 26 586 101
SBU eliminated international heroin supply chain. 146 kg of drugs seized. PHOTOS The Security Service of Ukraine and the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine have exposed and eliminated heroin supply pipeline operating through the territory of Ukraine. 35 038 96
Volume of smuggling in occupied Donbas exceeded 35 billion hryvnia this year. VIDEO Smuggling of goods to the occupied territories of Donbas is covered by senior officials of the Interior Ministry and the SBU from Kyiv. The large-scale smuggling is underway between Ukraine and its occupied part thanks to their "efforts". 39 087 90 Previously in trend: War
Tax authorities detained truck full of coins obtained from sale of humanitarian aid in Donbas. PHOTOS The 'Phantom' detachment of the tax police seized cash in the amount of one million hryvnia (about $45,000) obtained from the distribution of humanitarian aid. The perpetrators tried to take the money out from the temporarily occupied territories. 53 039 88 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
Russians establish channel of smuggling of sanctioned goods through territory of Georgia, - Main Intelligence Directorate of Ministry of Defense Due to the introduction of international sanctions, Russia has lost the ability to supply a wide range of military, dual and civilian goods. To circumvent the sanctions, Russian agents are setting up smuggling channels that pass, in particular, through Georgia. 14 882 83 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
Tysa customs officials suspended over smuggling allegations, - prosecutor general. PHOTOS Senior officers of Tysa customs post (the Zakarpattia region) were suspended Thursday after Hungary's border guards found a large batch of smuggled cigarettes and amber in a vehicle that arrived from Ukraine. 68 953 81
Ex-customs officer Aminev charged with major theft bailed out Ex-member of the Odesa-based customs office, Denys Aminev charged with the theft of 37 containers with goods worth 140 million hryvnia (almost $5 million) was released on bail of just 1.7 million hryvnia (about $60,300). 5 026 79
SBU seizes 257 kg of cocaine from South America in Odesa. PHOTO The officers of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Odesa region along with the Prosecutor’s Office, National Police, Border Guard Service and State Fiscal Service revealed a sea channel of smuggling from the country in South America of large amounts of cocaine. 10 801 74
It is top priority for new prosecutor of Zakarpattia region and his colleagues from Western Ukraine to stop smuggling of forest, - Lutsenko. PHOTOS The main task of Volodymyr Havryliuk, the new prosecutor of the Zakarpattia region, is to stop illegal deforestation of the Carpathian forests. 19 021 72
SBU: contraband trafficking for militants which Ukrainian military was privy to has been shut off The Security Service of Ukraine has shut off smuggling of goods to the territory controlled by the “DPR” and “LPR” terrorists as a result of a large-scale special operation conducted in the ATO area. 28 061 72
Ukrainian businessman Alperin charged with attempting to give $800,000 in bribe to NABU detective, - source The members of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Major Fraud Investigation Directorate of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) indicted well-known businessman Vadym Alperin charged with attempting to give $800,000 in bribe to a NABU detective. 34 233 71 Previously in trend: Grafters
Border guards shot to stop seven smugglers in Volyn region. PHOTOS The border guards apprehended several Volyn region residents who were trying to smuggle cigarettes across the Ukrainian-Polish border. 23 725 69
Ukrainian checkpoint set in Novoluhanske village to prevent illegal traffic, - volunteer Shovkoshytnyi The Armed Forces of Ukraine established a checkpoint in the village of Novoluhanske in the Donetsk region. 57 326 67
PM Hroisman on fight against smuggling: "Extra 400M hryvnia go to budget on a daily basis" Ukraine’s budget additionally receives more than 400 million hryvnia generated by the anti-smuggling campaign on a daily basis. 4 933 66
Border guards prevented export of Stradivarius violin abroad - Interior Ministry. PHOTOS Border guards prevented the export of a 1730 Antonio Stradivarius violin. 7 752 63
Two Ukrainian diplomats recalled from Poland on suspicion of corruption Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has recalled from abroad two employees of the Ukrainian Embassy in Poland who are suspected of corruption. 17 289 63
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