ESBU detectives in the Chernivtsi region stopped the smuggling of electric cars on the border with Romania

 An attempt to illegally import high-value electric vehicles by concealing them from customs control was thwarted in Bukovyna.

Detectives from the Territorial Department of the ESBU in the Chernivtsi region uncovered a scheme to move excisable goods across the border that individuals attempted to carry out at the Porubne customs checkpoint.

The investigation established that a carrier from Georgia was transporting Chinese electric cars on a car hauler to a company address in Lviv. To minimize mandatory customs duties, they submitted documents with undervalued prices to the regulatory authorities. However, the fraudsters failed to 'save money.' During a search of the driver's cabin, original documents were found that stated the real market price of the cars—about UAH 1 million each.

The electric cars, the commercial truck, and the car trailer used to illegally move the vehicles across the customs border were seized.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched and is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 201-4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (smuggling, moving excisable goods across the customs border of Ukraine outside of customs control or by concealing them from customs control). The full circle of individuals involved in the illegal activity is being established.

The Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office is providing procedural guidance.

Notably, according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court's verdict of guilty.