The withdrawal of currency and valuables from Ukraine to the countries of the European Union since Feb. 24 has reached €3 billion, said the director of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) Vadym Melnyk during an online meeting with representatives of the customs authorities of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
Melnyk said that from Feb. 24 until today, Ukrainians and foreigners have been transporting cash, precious accessories and bank metals in extremely great volumes across our state border. They often act in collusion with unidentified persons, according to a criminal plan, without a proper customs declaration. At the same time, they aim to hide illegally obtained income and legalize it in the EU.
ESBU has analyzed and already identified a large number of those facts. The legality of the origin of the withdrawn funds and their possible legalization by transfer or transportation abroad is under investigation now. If their origin is illegal, they will be arrested and returned to Ukraine.
In particular, it was found that individuals received funds illegally in Ukraine without paying taxes, fees and other mandatory payments. Citizens were probably accomplices in income smoothing schemes, money laundering centers, bribe takers, etc.
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