A Moldovan company specialized in the collection, processing and export of ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste to Turkey and the European Union complains about the blocking of trucks at the Giurgiulești-Reni joint customs post. The company’s administrator, Valentin Eșanu, said that there is an order from the Security Service of Ukraine not to allow vehicles to pass. Valentin Eșanu called on the authorities of the two countries to intervene and deal with the “artificial blockage” created at the Moldovan-Ukrainian customs post.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, Valentin Eșanu said that since June, the company he manages, “Sofilarex Plus” SRL, started to export through Ukraine, through the Reni port, and by September it loaded three vessels with ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste to Turkey and Europe. On September 11, the ship rented by the company to load ferrous metal waste arrived in the port of Reni. Upon its arrival, the State Customs Service of Ukraine unjustifiably prohibited the loading. After almost 16 hours of negotiations, the loading of the ship with scrap metal was allowed.
The administrator of “Sofilarex Plus” SRL added that, the next day, he faced another problem. “At the entrance to the Giurgiulești-Reni joint customs post, our trucks were stopped. A customs officer on duty came and explained the crossing ban, saying that an order from the Security Service of Ukraine bans the passing of our trucks and that they, after they are checked, should be sent back to the Republic of Moldova. Our colleagues asked for a copy of the issued document, but it was not presented. They created a commission to which we did not have access. They checked the truck with metals. According to colleagues, they found a few pans that they said could be repaired and sold in Turkey by piece, not as scrap iron. Because of this, a report was drawn up and a certificate of return of the metal waste to the Republic of Moldova was issued,” related Valentin Eșanu.
The company’s director noted that he requested the responsible authorities to clarify the situation, but he did not receive any response. The company has all the authorizations, including the one that proves that the company is responsible for the quality of the declared goods carried in the truck. They only transit Ukraine, but do not purchase goods in this country and have no sale-purchase relationship with the Ukrainian state.
The administrator of “Sofilarex Plus” LLC also said that in a discussion with representatives of the Customs Service of Odessa region, he found out that there is an order to check and return the trucks to Moldova. According to Valentin Eșanu, the trucks are stationary so far and there is no clarity in this case. The businessman calls on the Governments of Moldova and Ukraine to intervene and resolve the situation. “We tend towards the European Union and we must align ourselves with European standards, but not introduce a monopoly so that, in the future, other bona fide companies that pay taxes are not blocked,” he stated.
IPN sent inquiries to the Customs Services of Moldova and Ukraine, asking for a comment on the situation, but has not yet received any response.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider that they were targeted in the articles produced based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
