In Ukraine, property confiscated by customs — ranging from clothing and electronics to cars and industrial equipment — is sold exclusively at open electronic auctions. These auctions are organized by the platforms Prozorro.Продажі and State Enterprise “SETAM”, with all proceeds going to the state budget.
This is reported by Finway
How Confiscated Property is Sold at Auctions
Every year, Ukrainian customs confiscate hundreds of batches of various goods. The reasons for confiscation may include violations of customs regulations, expiration of storage under customs control, or the official refusal of the owner to claim the property. All these items undergo a legally defined procedure: they are either put up for sale or disposed of.
After confiscation or transfer to the state, the property goes to electronic auctions:
- JSC “Prozorro.Продажі” — sells most categories of confiscated property, including unclaimed goods;
- State Enterprise “SETAM” — conducts sales exclusively of confiscated items.
Each lot at the auction is accompanied by a detailed description, photographs, information about the date and location of inspection, as well as clear participation conditions. The winner receives an official act certifying ownership of the purchased item.
The Fate of Confiscated Property and Debunking Myths about “Confiscated Goods Stores”
The value of goods listed at auctions already includes all necessary customs fees, so the auction winner does not pay any additional charges. The money received from sales is directed to the state budget, and each purchase at the auction supports the financial stability of the country.
“Customs has no relation to stores with names like ‘Customs Confiscated’ or ‘Second-Hand from Customs.’ These are purely marketing tricks, and such trade has no connection to the official procedures for selling confiscated property.”
If a lot cannot be sold even after several attempts and price reductions, one of the following decisions is made: free transfer (for example, for the needs of the army or communities), reprocessing, disposal, or destruction. The final decision depends on the condition of the item, its type, and the possibility of further use.