Car price or law: MP speaks about corruption at customs

The Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, Danylo Getmantsev, reported a new incident of pressure on an entrepreneur during customs clearance of goods at the Odessa customs.

He spoke about this in a video published on the social network.

“I was contacted by an entrepreneur who has been importing toys for 15 years. During the next customs clearance, the customs demanded additional funds, artificially increasing the customs value to force him to switch to illegal clearance with more favorable conditions for selected persons,” said Getmantsev.

The deputy noted that the entrepreneur refused to participate in corruption schemes, as a result of which he became the object of pressure: lengthy inspections, delays, and an increase in the cost of customs clearance from $5.52 to $6.67 per kilogram.

“Even though the country is trying to adhere to de-shadowing, the Odesa Customs and the Coordination and Monitoring Customs continue to operate according to their own rules, where bribes are more important than the law and the reputation of the state,” he emphasized.

Hetmantsev emphasized that the state must take measures to facilitate legal customs clearance and prevent customs officers from using illegal schemes. “Such actions cannot remain without consequences – it is necessary to open criminal proceedings with confiscation of property for the responsible persons,” he added.

Hetmantsev has already appealed to law enforcement agencies and the State Customs Service regarding the crime and is awaiting a response from the public. He also recalled that, following his previous appeal, the Odesa Prosecutor’s Office is already investigating schemes of abuse during customs clearance.

“This is not a personal matter. This is the struggle of all honest entrepreneurs for the right to work without having to pay bribes. I will monitor the situation,” Hetmantsev concluded.

It should be noted that at the Odessa customs, according to preliminary data, cargo from Europe was detained at the border for up to 20 days, raising suspicions of the possible creation of artificial obstacles to the receipt of bribes.