Smuggling Of Goods As A Strategic Threat To The Economic Security Of European States

The relevance of the problem described in the article is due to the fact that globalization processes open the borders of states for international operations with commodity turnover, promote the development of trade. However, globalization processes also cause the movement of goods outside the customs border or their concealment from customs control, which is a significant threat to the economic security of the state and requires the search for areas for countering and combating the smuggling of goods. The purpose of the article is to summarize the data on the current state and methods for minimizing the smuggling of goods as a threat to the economic security of the state. This goal was achieved using the method of critical analysis, formal logical method, and system-structural approach. The article describes the concept of “smuggling”, types of smuggling and the causes of smuggling of goods. The problems of counteracting smuggling have been identified and proposals for improving activities in this area have been summarized accordingly. Emphasis was placed on the expediency of criminal liability for smuggling of commercial goods in the country and it was proposed to amend Article 201 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The proposals contained in the article are aimed at improving the activities of customs and border authorities in the field of counteracting and combating the smuggling of goods.