(MENAFN) Two customs officials in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine are suspected of facilitating the illegal import of electronics worth UAH 112 million. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has pressed charges against a deputy chief and chief state inspector of the Luzhanka Customs Post, who are believed to have allowed a truck carrying smartphones, tablets, and laptops to cross into Ukraine from Hungary without paying customs fees. Last summer, the customs officials allowed the vehicle to pass through the "green corridor" without conducting a proper check.
After receiving a tip-off, law enforcement officers stopped and searched the truck once it had left the customs post. They found a large batch of electronics, including cell phones, laptops, and smartwatches, which had a tentative value of over UAH 112 million. The deputy head of the customs post is suspected of negligence, while the state inspector is believed to have acted in conspiracy with the smugglers. Both customs officers could face up to six years in prison.
Additionally, detectives with the Bureau of Economic Security have pressed charges against the individuals who were directly involved in smuggling the gadgets. The seized equipment has been handed over to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This is not the first corruption case involving customs officials in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation exposed a corruption scheme at the Zhytomyr customs office, which inflicted UAH 3.5 million in losses on the state budget. The Ukrainian authorities are making efforts to fight corruption and smuggling to protect the country's economy and national security.
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