How we recovered confiscated tyres worth $38,000 and overturned a $19,000 fine
An importer received a batch of 480 passenger car tyres. Customs seized the cargo over a labelling non-compliance: the label did not show the speed index in Ukrainian. The inspector opened a customs violation case with confiscation of goods worth $38,000. The client was offered to pay a $19,000 fine and give up the tyres.
We challenged the ruling in court, proving that the English-language label complied with the applicable technical regulation and that the absence of a translation was not a lawful ground for confiscation. In parallel, we filed an administrative complaint against the actions of the customs authority as a back-up line of defence.
The court overturned the confiscation ruling. The cargo was returned to the owner and the fine was cancelled. The client saved $19,000 and kept the goods. The case took 3 months.
"We thought we would never see the tyres again. It turned out the law was on our side — we just needed someone who knew how to prove it."— Owner of an auto parts import company
