Deineko Serhii Vasylovych

Undue advantage to State Border Guard Service officials for unhindered passage of cars with cigarettes to the EU (2023)

According to NABU and SAPO, in 2023 a group of persons organised the illegal smuggling of cigarettes across the state border into the EU, and officials of the State Border Guard Service systematically received an undue advantage for their assistance: in July–November 2023 alone — at least EUR 204 thousand for the unimpeded passage of 68 vehicles (EUR 3,000 each). Vehicles with number plates resembling diplomatic ones were used, carrying passengers holding diplomatic passports. On 22.01.2026 a former Head of the State Border Guard Service, the head of a checkpoint unit and a former official of the State Border Guard Service were served notices of suspicion (Article 27(4), Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code); in July 2026 the investigation was completed. The amount of EUR 204 thousand is the total for the episode; the share of each person has not been determined. Official announcements do not give the surname; identification is based on media data. There is no verdict.

Pre-trial investigation body:

National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

Proceedings:

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Charges:

ч.4 ст.27 КК, ч.4 ст.368 КК