The State Bureau of Investigations uncovered a group of companies that evaded paying 30 million UAH in taxes during wheat transshipment.

Detectives from the Main Department of Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) have uncovered a group of companies that evaded paying 30 million UAH in profit tax. 

This information is reported on the bureau's website.

It is noted that the enterprises specialize in the storage and loading of agricultural products. They are also part of a holding company that is a resident of the United Arab Emirates and is involved in several criminal proceedings and lawsuits regarding opaque activities and failure to repay debts to American investment funds. 

“During the pre-trial investigation, detectives established that the officials of the companies intentionally understated the tax base. In particular, according to tax reports, the cost of their cargo handling services is 200–300 UAH per ton, while the average market price for similar work in Ukraine is 800 UAH,” the report states.

According to the information, the difference between the market value of services and that reflected in the company's tax reports was transferred to controlled non-resident enterprises. Subsequently, the unaccounted profits were brought back into the country through illegal cash withdrawal points. 

“In this way, only in 2023–2024, the holding companies evaded paying 30 million UAH in profit tax,” the BEB noted.

During sanctioned searches at the grain transshipment terminal, detectives seized forged financial and economic documents regarding the origin, transshipment, and export of agricultural products.

Investigative actions at the terminal and the offices are ongoing; however, the company officials are obstructing the process: they refuse to provide documents, hinder searches, and try to conceal evidence.

Currently, those involved in the crimes are being identified, including a well-known sanctioned smuggler. The activities of the holding and its companies, which are implicated in cases of opaque operations and debt defaults to international funds, are also being analyzed.

As reminded by the BEB, the High Court of England previously ordered the seizure of the assets of the holding's owners, but they created a new company to re-register equipment and continue illegal activities.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that the BEB uncovered two ferroalloy plants for failing to pay nearly 1.2 billion UAH in taxes. It is noted that the plants are affiliated with well-known Ukrainian oligarchs.