Detectives of the Territorial Department of the ESBU in the Volyn region exposed 3 people who tried to smuggle counterfeit tobacco products across the state border.

The investigation established that residents of the Kovel district organized the transportation of illegally produced cigarettes to the Republic of Poland. For this, they used homemade unmanned aerial vehicles.

Detectives of the Bureau discovered and seized two drones with parachutes, a device for launching a UAV, batteries, as well as 72 blocks of tobacco products without excise tax stamps. The estimated cost of one UAV is about 6,000 US dollars.

In the last three months, this is already the third case of illegal transportation of cigarettes across the border from the territory of the Kovel oblast. In total, during this time, the ESBU detectives seized 7 unmanned aerial vehicles and about 2,000 packs of cigarettes.

The pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture, storage, transportation for sale, and sale of excise goods) and part 2 of Art. 199 (illegal manufacture, storage, and purchase of counterfeit excise tax stamps) continues. The full range of persons involved in illegal activities is established.

Employees of the 6th Volyn border detachment and operatives of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Volyn Oblast of the National Police of Ukraine carried out operational escort.

Prosecutors of the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office are in charge of the proceedings.