In a major anti-corruption operation by USKOK in the area of Rijeka, 17 individuals from customs and freight forwarding services were detained, and dozens of apartments and business premises were searched.
USKOK suspects them of accepting bribes to reduce import duties for certain individuals. In Zagreb, Rijeka, and Škrljevo, in collaboration with two Zagreb companies, they caused damage to the state budget of at least 8 million kuna.
Jelena Bikić, spokesperson for the Police Directorate, confirmed to Hina that the police office for the suppression of corruption and organized crime, in cooperation with USKOK, is conducting an operation in Rijeka, in which at least 15 individuals have been arrested. Among the detainees is also a Chinese national. Numerous evidentiary actions are being carried out on the ground, Bikić said, emphasizing that she cannot disclose more information in the interest of the investigation.
According to media reports, the targets of the investigators are employees of the customs office at the Port of Rijeka who have been accepting money in recent months to reduce duties for importers. They have allegedly been under secret measures since last autumn. They reportedly created false customs declarations that reduced the value of imported goods, allowing importers to pay lower customs duties. And, of course, rewarding customs officers for the savings.
