Lviv Customs Seized Smuggled Apple Devices Worth Over 35 Million Hryvnia

During a customs inspection in the Lviv region, law enforcement officials uncovered a large-scale scheme to illegally import high-end electronics from the well-known American brand Apple without paying the required taxes. A resident of Lviv has been officially notified that he is suspected of large-scale smuggling of excise goods and other items. 

The investigation established that the 38-year-old driver of a Renault Trafic attempted to cross the state border via the simplified “green corridor” lane to avoid the mandatory declaration of the cargo. However, during a detailed inspection of the vehicle, inspectors discovered three concealed access panels in the floor of the minivan, which were securely hidden beneath the passenger and driver seats using metal plates covered with fabric.

Inside the discovered structural hiding places, the perpetrator attempted to secretly smuggle a large shipment of genuine Apple devices:

• 501 iPhone smartphones of various models;

• 211 pairs of AirPods wireless earbuds;

• 117 state-of-the-art Apple Watches.

According to preliminary expert estimates, the total market value of the seized contraband exceeds 35 million hryvnias. Under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor’s office, the driver has been charged under Part 2 of Article 201-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and the court, at the request of investigators, has already seized all the confiscated electronics. We remind you that, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt is officially proven in court.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

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