Cigarettes under the guise of mineral wool: the head of Chernivtsi customs was searched
9 July 2025 14:56
Detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security conducted searches at the Chernivtsi Customs, including the office and home of its head, Yuriy Gerasymov. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing its own sources in law enforcement.
The searches are related to the investigation of a large-scale cigarette smuggling scheme to Romania.
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Cigarettes disguised as mineral wool
According to the sources, the scheme involves smuggling cigarettes under the guise of exporting mineral wool. The scheme is extremely simple. According to the documents, the car is transporting mineral wool across the border, but in fact it is carrying cigarettes.
Obviously, this scheme must involve many customs officers of various ranks and positions.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, documents, draft records and other materials that may indicate the involvement of officials in illegal activities.
What is known about Yuriy Gerasymov
Yuriy Gerasymov was appointed head of the Chernivtsi Customs in January 2024, after serving as the agency’s acting head for more than four months. Prior to that, he held various positions in the customs authorities of Ukraine.
In his declaration for 2024, Gerasymov indicated that last year he earned more than UAH 890,000 at the Chernivtsi customs office, more than UAH 58,000 at the Kharkiv customs office, and received more than UAH 210,000 in pension. His wife Nelya declared income from business activities (almost UAH 1.3 million), a salary at a farm, UAH 900 thousand from the sale of a car, and a gift worth a million hryvnias.
The declaration states that Gerasymov owns land, a house and a house in Kharkiv region, and rented two apartments in Chernivtsi. He had more than 105 thousand hryvnias and 30 thousand dollars (in bank accounts and in cash) in savings. His wife kept over 43 thousand dollars, almost 14 thousand euros, and another 40 thousand dollars in cash. Gerasymov declared a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as his means of transportation, and he also uses his wife’s cars – a Toyota Rav4 and a Toyota Camry, the latter of which she purchased in March 2024.
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