Customs error in Romania: Interlegal law team released the Client from accusation of smuggling and ordered the customs office to return seized cargo
21 May, 2026
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In the process of in-transit cargo transportation through Romania to Ukraine, during customs clearance at the Constanta Sea Port the customs inspector made a mistake, which caused several negative consequences.
In particular, the declarant submitted to the customs office LRN declaration (Local Reference Number) as per rules, while the customs officer should have carried out customs clearance, assign MRN (Movement Reference Number) and grant permission to leave the customs territory.
Instead, the customs officer granted permission to leave the customs territory by making a corresponding note in LRN declaration, while MRN was not reflected in the customs system.
When the cargo arrived at the next checkpoint, the driver was instructed to return to the Constanta Sea Port due to improper customs clearance. In compliance with such instructions, the driver returned to the Constanta Sea Port, where the cargo and the truck were detained and DIICOT initiated criminal proceedings on the grounds of smuggling.
With regards to the aforesaid, the Client (cargo owner) applied Interlegal with a request to release cargo and vehicle.
Interlegal law team promptly joined case support, having facilitated quick response and coordination of actions directly in Romania.
As a result of successful cooperation, Interlegal lawyers managed to release the Client from accusation of crime commitment in the form of smuggling and to reclassify the case from criminal to civil & administrative category.
In addition, in accordance with the DIICOT prosecutor’s order, given the absence of criminal grounds for seizure of the cargo, the customs office should have imposed administrative penalty on the cargo and released it. Despite this, the customs office decided to seize the cargo.
Due to unlawful seizure of the cargo, Interlegal law team successfully appealed against the customs office’s actions aimed at cargo seizure. It should be noted that disputes with customs authorities in Romania are traditionally a complex category of cases, in which state authorities have strong procedural positions, while positive decisions for business are rare.
We successfully settled this case due to thorough expertise and coordinated work of Interlegal law team that provided comprehensive legal support at all stages, from interaction with law enforcement bodies to effective judicial defense of the Client’s interests.
This case shows not only the team’s ability to find solutions in complex and non-standard situations but also confirms effectiveness of Interlegal practical approach to conducting cross-border disputes. It should be noted also that local presence in Romania and experience in working with foreign jurisdictions allowed us to promptly respond to state authorities’ actions and to achieve a result that is more an exception than a rule in similar cases.
Therefore, this project once again confirms that in international logistics and customs disputes, not only legal expertise is a keystone, but also ability to act quickly, in a coordinated manner and on site. Interlegal provides just this level of defense for its clients.
Interlegal Ukrainian and Romanian law team, namely Romanian partner Virgin Nita, managing associate & attorney-at-law Iryna Maltseva and lawyer Dmytro Karetnikov, led the case.
