Smartphones, medicines and cultural artefacts: customs officials have uncovered postal smuggling schemes
Between January and February 2026, customs authorities recorded 256 cases of customs violations involving goods transported in international postal and express consignments. The majority of these cases – 218 – were documented during the import of goods into Ukraine.
This was reported by the customs service.
It is noted that most often, offenders attempted to send mobile phones and other electronic devices, dual-use goods, cultural artefacts, as well as medicines and medical preparations. The total value of the items involved in the offences exceeded 3.8 million UAH.
According to the State Customs Service, the most common types of offences were:
- shipping of prohibited goods – 128 cases (Part 2 of Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine);
- false declaration – 114 cases (Part 1 of Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine);
- concealment from customs control – 14 cases (Part 1 of Article 483 of the Customs Code of Ukraine).
- Such administrative offences are punishable by a fine and possible confiscation of the goods.
In addition, the customs authorities detected 132 cases of illegal movement of goods showing signs of criminal offences.
In relation to these incidents, customs officers sent 107 reports to the Security Service of Ukraine and 25 reports to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine regarding possible unlawful activities.
