MRD and OLAF make an agreement
Ukrainian delegation headed by Minister of Revenues and Duties of Ukraine Oleksandr Klymenko and European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) signed an agreement on cooperation concerning illicit trafficking of tobacco products in Brussels during a working visit, says Ministry’s press service.
The agreement, in particular, provides for increased efficiency of information exchange on illicit trafficking of tobacco products, related information and joint activities to prevent, detect and investigate illicit trafficking of this product. Both sides appointed contact persons who will coordinate the partnership.
Ministry’s experts estimate over 92% of illegal export of tobacco from the customs territory of Ukraine to be at the border with EU member states. Measures undertaken by Ukraine’s customs authorities during 2012 revealed 3530 instances of illegal trafficking of tobacco products of more than 71 million cigarettes totaling almost €2.3 million. During four months in 2013 in 1135 instances of illicit trafficking of cigarettes were detected, 30 million cigarettes seized totaling 5.5 million UAH.
