Counterfeit cigarettes and illegally manufactured alcohol worth 12 million UAH: ESBU stopped the activity of a group of persons in Kyiv

 Underground production of alcohol and sales of counterfeit tobacco were set up in the capital by members of a group. Their activities were stopped by detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Kyiv. The total value of the seized products and equipment is about 12 million UAH.

The investigation established that the participants of the scheme stored and sold significant batches of counterfeit tobacco products. They used a car for their transportation. In parallel, the suspects set up a place for the illegal manufacture of alcoholic beverages, where, using special equipment and alcohol, they produced alcohol-containing products for further sale.

ESBU detectives conducted sanctioned searches in the places of storage of excise products and underground production of alcohol. Removed from illegal turnover were 148,000packs of counterfeit tobacco products, as well as a vehicle used by the participants of the scheme for their transportation.

In the place of illegal manufacture of alcoholic beverages, equipment for production, 1 ton of alcohol as raw material, and 775 liters of finished alcohol-containing products intended for further sale were discovered and seized.

The total estimated value of the seized tobacco products, alcohol products, raw materials, equipment, and vehicle is about 12 million UAH.

Currently, the sources of origin of the counterfeit tobacco products and alcohol are being established. The channels of their supply, storage, and distribution locations are also being checked, and the full circle of persons involved in the functioning of the illegal scheme is being determined.

The pretrial investigation in the criminal proceedings is carried out under the elements of criminal offenses provided for by Part 1 of Article 204 and Part 1 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal purchase, storage, transportation, and sale of illegally manufactured excise goods; laundering of property obtained through crime).

Operational support was carried out by employees of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural oversight is carried out by the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of conviction.