Ukraine introduces criminal liability for smuggling of all goods
2 July 2024 11:12
Starting from 1 July 2024, Law 5313-IX introduced criminal liability for commodity smuggling for all goods. This is stated in the report of the Business Association, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Criminal liability for commodity smuggling has been introduced for all goods:
- with a value of UAH 7.57 to 15.14 million – liability in the form of a fine of UAH 170 to 425 thousand;
- goods worth more than UAH 15.14 million – from UAH 850,000 fine to 11 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
If the smuggling is committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, by a person who has already been convicted of smuggling, by an official using his/her official position or in a large amount (over UAH 15.14 million), the penalty is a fine of UAH 850,000 to UAH 1.275 million or imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years, with restriction of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years, and confiscation of property.
At the same time, smuggling committed by an organised group is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 7 to 11 years, with restriction of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years and confiscation of property.
The law came into force for excisable goods on 1 January 2024. In particular, liability is provided for smuggling of goods
- worth between UAH 1.136 million and UAH 2.271 million – in the form of a fine of UAH 340 thousand to 6 years in prison;
- worth more than UAH 2.271 million – from UAH 1.275 million fine to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The State Customs Service and the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) will be responsible for monitoring these offences.
According to the State Customs Service, the number of detected offences in Q1 2024 increased almost 4 times compared to the same period in 2023. Thus, customs officers reported 2,356 violations of customs rules worth UAH 4.8 billion. Customs referred almost half of the 1116 cases of customs rules violations worth UAH 1 billion to the court.
