The SSU eliminated a large-scale scheme to extort money from exporters of Ukrainian agricultural products

The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed officials in Odessa who extorted bribes from representatives of domestic companies involved in the export of Ukrainian grain. The illicit scheme involved officials from the Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and the State Institution "Odessa Regional Phytosanitary Laboratory."

The monthly "earnings" of the scheme's organizers amounted to around 1 million USD. In exchange for bribes, the officials "guaranteed" entrepreneurs unhindered processing of laboratory research and compliance certificates for agricultural products. These permit documents are essential for selling grain to foreign countries.

The officials engaged three leaders of affiliated private companies specializing in the documentary support of goods. It was established that grain traders had to pay these "sums" in cash or transfer them to the bank accounts controlled by the officials' firms.

The Security Service of Ukraine documented multiple cases of officials receiving bribes. As a result of comprehensive actions, they apprehended the former head of the Department of Phytosanitary Security of the regional office of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety, the deputy head, an inspector from the Odessa Regional Phytosanitary Laboratory, and three heads of affiliated companies.

They have been informed of the suspicion according to the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 368 (acceptance of an offer, promise, or receipt of an illegal benefit by an official).
- Part 3 of Article 368-3 (bribery of an official of a private law legal entity, regardless of its organizational and legal form).

Four suspects have been placed in custody, with an alternative of bail set at 5 million UAH each, while two others have been placed under 24-hour house arrest. The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

These comprehensive actions were carried out in collaboration with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.