The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) announced on Thursday the exposure of a tax evasion scheme involving 30 million UAH during the transshipment of wheat by a group of companies specializing in the storage and loading of agricultural products, which American investors accuse of asset withdrawal.
"During the pre-trial investigation, detectives established that company officials intentionally understated the taxable base. Specifically, according to tax reports, the cost of their cargo transshipment services is 200-300 UAH per ton, while the average market price for similar services in Ukraine is 800 UAH," the release on the BEB website notes.
The agency claims that the difference between the market value of the services and the amount reflected in the company's tax reports was transferred to controlled non-resident enterprises, and the unaccounted profits were subsequently returned to the country through illegal cash withdrawal points.
According to the press release, during sanctioned searches at the grain transshipment terminal, detectives seized primary financial and economic documentation indicative of forgery related to the origin, transshipment, and export of agricultural products.
It is noted that investigative actions at the logistics center, grain transshipment terminal, and office premises are ongoing, and officials and representatives of the mentioned companies are obstructing the search operations.
"Currently, a complete circle of individuals involved in the illegal activities is being established, including a well-known sanctioned smuggler," the BEB also states without providing further details.
It is also mentioned that these companies are part of a holding based in the UAE, which is involved in several criminal proceedings and lawsuits regarding opaque activities and non-payment of debts to American investment funds. The BEB added that it is examining the economic activities of this holding and its companies, and reminded that the High Court of England previously issued a worldwide asset freeze order against the actual owners of the holding to prevent possible misappropriation of foreign investors' assets. According to the Bureau, to avoid confiscation, they created another company to re-register the production facilities and equipment of the grain terminal and continued their illegal activities.
On the same day, representatives of the companies LLC "Prista Oil-Ukraine" and LLC "Attollo Granum" at a press conference at the "Interfax-Ukraine" agency reported pressure from BEB employees on enterprises in the port of Odessa. They claim that since December 19, BEB detectives have been blocking the operations of dozens of companies under the pretext of tax evasion.
"Detectives arrive every morning at the site of the search, where they read a decision on the need to 'resume' investigative actions," and later that same day, a detective reads a "suspension" of the investigation. However, the definition from the Kyiv District Court of Odessa … mentions a search but not a word about the seizure of property, which is actually happening," stated lawyer Valery Snitkin.
According to the director of "Attollo Granum," Alexander Pavlenko, during the work blockage, the company's daily losses exceed 750,000 UAH. Both companies employ over 350 people.
The company representatives indicated that in private conversations, law enforcement officials stated that they would "stay on site" until January 15, although the order is only valid until January 10.
The directors of "Prista Oil-Ukraine" and "Attollo Granum" reported that they have filed a complaint regarding the current situation with the Office of the President, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine, and the Council for Business Support of Ukraine, but have yet to receive any response.
As reported, there has been a conflict over the "Olimpex Kupe International" terminal at the territory of the Odessa Sea Commercial Port (OSCP) for several years, with control being sought by the creditor – the American hedge fund Argentem Creek Partners (ACP). On January 16, 2023, the High Court of England ruled to freeze the assets of Sergey Groza and Vladimir Naumenko - owners of GNT Group, with sanctions totaling $118 million imposed. Additionally, the American asset management company Innovatus Capital Partners has initiated a criminal investigation against GNT Group, accusing it of misappropriation and disposal of pledged assets. In turn, GNT Group denies these allegations.
In addition to the grain terminal, GNT Group's Ukrainian assets include the "Dry Port" production site - a complex for processing grain and oilseeds at the "Euroterminal" industrial site, connected to the OSCP by a bridge.