Counterfeit tobacco and alcohol: ESBU in the Lviv region sends three indictments to the court

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Lviv region have exposed the illegal trafficking of excisable products and completed pre-trial investigations in three criminal proceedings. The indictments have been sent to court.

The investigation established that the suspects organized the acquisition, storage, and transportation of illegally manufactured tobacco products and alcoholic beverages without excise tax stamps for the purpose of further sale. Sales were carried out both through personal contacts and by delivering goods to end consumers for cash, without being recorded in tax accounts.

Specifically, in the first episode, a resident of the Lviv region purchased and stored illegally manufactured tobacco products without excise tax stamps for the purpose of further sale. During the investigative actions, over 1,100 packs of cigarettes were seized.

In another case, a female resident of the region set up the storage of excisable products for the purpose of sale. She had accumulated over 2,100 packs of tobacco products and 112 bottles of alcoholic beverages without excise stamps, which she planned to sell without the appropriate permits or tax reporting.

Another suspect purchased and transported illegally manufactured tobacco products without excise tax stamps for further sale. In total, this involved over 1,000 packs of cigarettes, some of which were intended for sale, including outside of Ukraine.

During the searches, detectives seized significant batches of illegally manufactured excisable goods without excise stamps, confirming the systematic nature of the illegal activity and the intent to generate illicit profits.

The pre-trial investigation in these criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture, storage, transportation, or sale of excisable goods) was conducted by detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Lviv region. Procedural oversight was provided by prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

It should be noted that, according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven through legal procedures and established by a court verdict.