Criminal characteristics of smuggling and its significance for technical and criminal support of the investigation of such kind of crimes

№ 4, 2026

Authors: Oleksandr SAVKA, Oleh ZAKALA

Issue: № 4, 2026

Doi: https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2026.4.19

The paper examines the criminalistic characteristics of smuggling as an informational model that reflects the system of typical features of criminal activity and is important for organizing, planning, and conducting effective pre-trial investigations. It is emphasized that the criminalistic characteristics are an important tool for understanding the mechanism of committing a crime, allowing the identification of regular connections between its individual elements and contributing to the formation of optimal investigation tactics. The paper analyzes the main structural elements of the criminalistic characteristics of smuggling, in particular, the method of preparation, commission, and concealment of the crime, the circumstances of its commission, the object of the offense, the identity of the offender, the trace pattern, as well as the characteristic features of the mechanism for concealing illegal activity. Attention is drawn to the fact that modern smuggling activities are increasingly carried out by organized criminal groups that use complex schemes for moving goods across the customs border, modern technical means, and various methods of concealing traces of the crime. It is substantiated that the effectiveness of detecting, recording, and investigating these elements largely depends on the level of technical and forensic support provided to pre-trial investigation bodies. The importance of forensic tools and methods, in particular modern technical means of recording and investigating material traces, the use of information systems and special knowledge in the process of forming the evidence base in criminal proceedings on smuggling, is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the role of technical and forensic means in establishing the organized nature of criminal activity, identifying channels for the illegal movement of goods, and documenting the illegal actions of participants in criminal schemes. It is emphasized that the comprehensive use of forensic methods contributes to the effectiveness of investigative (search) actions and ensures the completeness and objectivity of evidence. It is concluded that there is a need to further improve the technical and forensic support of Ukraine's pre-trial investigation bodies, develop modern methods of investigating customs crimes, and strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies and customs and border services as one of the key areas for improving the effectiveness of combating smuggling.

Keywords : forensic characteristics, smuggling, customs crime, technical and forensic support, pre-trial investigation, organized criminal groups, forensic tools, trace information

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