Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Economic Security Bureau in Poltava region exposed a group of people who illegally stored and sold tobacco products without excise stamps during 2022-2023.

During the search of the garage where the counterfeit was stored, detectives seized more than 127 thousand packs of cigarettes. The estimated value of the seized goods is UAH 5 million.

Other places of storage and sale of illegally manufactured tobacco products are currently being identified.

The pre-trial investigation on the grounds of a criminal offence stipulated by Part 3 Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation with intent to sell excisable goods) is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department of the ESBU in Poltava region, the operational support is being provided by the Criminal Police Department of the Dnipro District Police Department of the Main National Police in Dnipro region and the procedural supervision is being provided by prosecutors of the Poltava Region Prosecutor's Office.