The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has frozen a substantial amount of cash seized by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) during searches targeting Vasyl Pupenia, a customs clearance inspector at the «Tysa» customs post. In total, the court blocked €185,000, $154,000, and 65.5 thousand UAH. The asset freeze was ordered to ensure potential property confiscation as part of an ongoing anti-corruption investigation.
Law enforcement officers uncovered and seized the funds during sanctioned searches conducted on April 8, 2026. The investigative measures were carried out as part of a criminal case focusing on illicit enrichment and corruption activities involving the customs official.
The court granted the prosecutors’ motions by issuing two separate rulings. These decisions cover cash discovered in hidden compartments, as well as funds the official claimed were a «loan.» The customs inspector failed to provide any official documentation to verify the legitimate source of the money.
Prior to the asset freeze, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) conducted a lifestyle monitoring review of the official. The agency identified unsubstantiated assets belonging to Vasyl Pupenia totaling 23 million UAH.
The investigation into the customs corruption case is ongoing under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor’s office. The case is registered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under criminal proceedings No. 62024000000000923.
If convicted, the suspect faces prison time along with the confiscation of all legally owned property.