MP Danylo Hetmantsev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy, has brought to light the significant smuggling of coffee into Ukraine, estimating that one-third of the product enters the country illegally. The MP has urged the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Bureau of Economic Security to pay closer attention to the coffee market, where this illegal activity is costing the state budget approximately UAH 1 bln annually. Hetmantsev emphasized that the smuggling of coffee not only undermines the country’s revenue but also threatens the integrity of the legal market.
According to the MP’s findings, the smuggling of coffee represents a major challenge for Ukraine’s economic policies. The illicit importation of goods bypasses official customs procedures and tax obligations, leading to a substantial loss of state income. Hetmantsev has called for immediate action from the relevant authorities, suggesting that stricter enforcement measures and increased surveillance in the coffee market could help curb the smuggling problem. He also warned that the current situation could have long-term implications for the country’s fiscal stability.