In Ukraine, a scheme for the import of branded clothing was exposed under the guise of helping the poor

Law enforcement agencies of Ukraine exposed and stopped the work of an underground scheme for evading taxes and customs payments when importing expensive clothing into the country. This was reported June 16 on the Facebook page of the press service of the Kiev City Prosecutor’s Office.

At the moment, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

It is noted that this fraud took place through the import of commercial goods, in particular, branded clothing under the guise of humanitarian aid to low-income families. To this end, the organizers registered several fictitious donor companies and several charitable organizations to which this aid was allegedly delivered.

Moreover, the fraudsters themselves opened the cars sealed by customs officers, unloaded branded items and medicines from them, and then reported worn clothes so that the weight corresponded to the accompanying documents. After that, they re-packed the cargo with fake customs seals. The prosecutor’s office in Kiev noted that due to illegal machinations, the state did not receive monthly customs payments for tens of millions of hryvnias.

The report emphasizes that law enforcement officers simultaneously conducted nine searches in the territory of the Rivne region in office and warehouse premises, as well as in the places of residence of production employees. As a result, more than ten tons of goods were seized from the fraudsters.

In June 2020, a scheme invented by Russian students for stealing clothes from stores was disclosed. It turned out that the gang members returned to the store the things that allegedly did not fit them with the help of a check, which had previously been lured away from real customers in various ways. They were caught in February 2019 by a security guard who declassified their fraud.