Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Economic Security Bureau in Kyiv region in cooperation with border guards and customs officers, exposed the illegal import of commercial goods from abroad under the guise of humanitarian aid.

The investigation identified a group of people who using the details of a charitable organization imported freon gas worth over UAH 14 million into Ukraine for further sale. The defendants declared the goods as humanitarian aid and thus evaded paying customs duties.

After crossing the state border they replaced the truck that was transporting the goods to the warehouse to conceal them. However the detectives of the ESBU detained the vehicle and seized the goods.

In addition the pre-trial investigation revealed that the director of the said charitable organization had previously been prosecuted for the illegal use of humanitarian aid for profit.

The full range of persons involved in the illegal activity is currently being identified.

The pre-trial investigation under Part 3 Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department of the ESBU in Kyiv region in cooperation with the border guards of the Operational and Investigative Department of the Kyiv Border Guard Complex of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Department for Combating Smuggling and Customs Violations of the Volyn Customs.

Prosecutors of the Kyiv Region Prosecutor's Office are providing procedural supervision.