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🦑 Instead of an Italian delicacy dinner — a customs fine: a woman tried to import 45 kg of cuttlefish ink
29 September 2026 the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv considered a case regarding a customs violation by Ukrainian citizen Halyna Mykhailivna Kotsur, who was entering Ukraine through the Shehyni–Medyka checkpoint.
The Telegram channel "Sudom po skhemakh" reports this with reference to case No. 461/6765/26.
🚨 Details of the incident at the border
8 August 2026 an automobile "Skoda Octavia" was entering via the "Mostyska" customs post’s green corridor, in which Halyna Mykhailivna Kotsur was traveling as a passenger. During the inspection, customs officers suspected the presence of goods subject to mandatory declaration and directed the car to the in-depth inspection bay.
During the check, undeclared delicacy was found in the cabin — 90 cans of cuttlefish ink branded "NORMA NERO DI SEPPIA" (weighing 500 g each) with a total mass of 45 kg and a value of 54 000 UAH.
After the inspection the citizen explained that the discovered goods had been handed to her for transportation into Ukraine, and she was not aware of the established import limits.
🍳 What is cuttlefish ink and why is it a delicacy for an elegant dinner?
Cuttlefish ink (Italian: Nero di Seppia) is a refined ingredient widely used in Mediterranean (especially Italian and Spanish) cuisine. It has a distinctive slightly salty taste with pronounced umami and a natural sea aroma, and it gives dishes a deep glossy black color.
Due to its high cost and concentrated flavor, this product is considered a premium delicacy and is used in fine-dining restaurants to prepare dishes such as:
• 🍝 Black pasta (Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia): pasta whose dough or sauce is flavored with ink.
• 🥘 Italian risotto and Spanish paella (Arroz Negro): rice cooked in a broth with added ink and seafood.
• 🥖 Sauces, baked goods, and food coloring: sauces for fish, gourmet burgers with black buns, soups, and seafood.
The discovered quantity of 45 kg (90 cans of 500 g each) is calculated to prepare many thousands of restaurant portions, so the volume seized itself indicated a commercial purpose for the goods.
⚖️ Court decision
The court found Halyna Mykhailivna Kotsur guilty of committing an offense under part 3 of article 471 of the Customs Code of Ukraine (failure to declare goods subject to restrictions) and imposed the following penalties:
• 💸 Fine: 5 100 UAH (300 non-taxable minimums);
• ⚖️ Court fee: 665,60 UAH;
• 📦 Storage costs for the goods: 254,87 UAH in favor of the Lviv Customs Office;
• 🎁 Goods: the court decided to return 90 cans of cuttlefish ink to the owner (without applying confiscation).
💡 Advice from the Telegram channel "Sudom po skhemakh"
1. Know the limits on food products: You can bring food into Ukraine for personal use up to 200 euros per person. Weight and quantity restrictions — no more than 1 packages or up to 2 kg of a single item in the manufacturer’s packaging.
2. The "green corridor" is a legal declaration: By choosing the "green corridor," you legally assert that you are not carrying goods that require declaration, payment of duties, or are subject to restrictions.
3. "Other people’s packages" do not exempt you from responsibility: The argument "someone just gave them to me" does not work in court. Responsibility for transported cargo always rests with the person who carries it directly.
Telegram publication