720 Thousand Cigarettes Detained in Transcarpathia Under the Guise of Humanitarian Aid

Customs officials in Transcarpathia discovered an official from an international charity foundation who attempted to import 720 thousand cigarettes of the 'Golden Tobacco Gold' brand worth over 3.5 million UAH under the guise of humanitarian aid, reports the Transcarpathian Customs.

In the minibus, customs found cigarettes of the 'Golden Tobacco Gold' brand (marked Duty Free), which were allegedly intended for a specific military unit.

Customs officials decided to thoroughly check the documents and contacted the specified military unit to find out if they were indeed supposed to receive such aid from the international foundation.

It turned out that the military unit had no contractual relations either with the charity foundation or with the foreign tobacco factory and had not given anyone any orders to represent their interests in concluding contracts for cigarette supplies from abroad.

Since the official violated customs rules, he faces a fine of 50 to 100% of the value of the goods involved and their confiscation. The estimated value of the seized cigarettes exceeds 3.5 million UAH. In addition, customs may send a report of signs of a criminal offense to the relevant authorities.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved new duty-free shop regulations, under which goods without customs clearance can only be purchased by passengers of international flights or those leaving the country, and only with a passport. This resolution will come into effect 45 days from the date of publication.

In 2023, a list of items prohibited for transportation across the border became known. Customs control staff check the personal belongings and luggage of Ukrainians traveling abroad.

As a result of customs rule violations in Transcarpathia, it was found that 'Golden Tobacco Gold' cigarettes were attempted to be imported into Ukraine under the guise of humanitarian aid, but the true purpose was dishonest. The foundation official faces fines and confiscation of goods, as well as possible criminal consequences. Moreover, the government has established new rules for duty-free shops and prohibited the transportation of certain items across the border during crossing.