Personal Search under Article 340 of the Customs Code of Ukraine: an Analysis of Judicial Practice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21564/2225-6555.2026.29.361143Keywords:
personal search, customs control, customs border, right to personal integrity, judicial practiceAbstract
The article analyses judicial practice regarding the application of Art. 340 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, which governs legal relations concerning personal searches of individuals during customs control at Ukraine's customs border. The relevance of this study stems from the fact that personal searches, as an exceptional form of customs control, constitute interference with private life and may infringe the constitutional right to personal integrity, particularly given that the results of such searches may subsequently be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. The article provides a comparative analysis of the procedure governing personal searches under the Customs Code of Ukraine, personal searches under the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences, and searches conducted under the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The study presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of the legal positions adopted by the Supreme Court concerning the legal nature and grounds for conducting personal searches as an exceptional form of customs control authorised by a written decision of the head of the customs authority, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person crossing the customs border of Ukraine is concealing contraband or goods that violate customs regulations. Particular attention is devoted to the admissibility of evidence obtained during customs control, including personal search reports, as well as to the criteria used by courts to assess the legality and justification of personal searches, given that the sole statutory basis for conducting such searches is the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that a person is concealing prohibited items. As a result of the study, proposals to enhance legal certainty in the application of Art. 340 of the Customs Code of Ukraine were formulated.
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