Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau in the Kyiv region jointly with cyberpolice operatives exposed a large-scale scheme for the sale of illegally manufactured excisable goods. Cigarettes worth UAH 5.4 million were seized from illicit trafficking.

ESBU was approached by representatives of a well-known tobacco manufacturer who found products with counterfeit trademarks and their company names on the market.

The ESBU detectives identified a group of people who organized the sale of counterfeit tobacco products in the Kyiv region. The offenders sold the goods through retail outlets in the Kyiv region and throughout Ukraine by mail.

During the investigation, the ESBU detectives found and seized more than 63 thousand packs of illegally manufactured cigarettes with an estimated value of UAH 5.4 million. In addition, USD 15 thousand in cash and two cars used to transport the products to points of sale were seized.

The investigation is ongoing. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the organizer of the scheme and his accomplices is being decided.

The pre-trial investigation under Part 2 Art. 204 and Part 3 Art. 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is being conducted by detectives of the ESBU in the Kyiv region in cooperation with the Cyber Police Department. Procedural supervision is carried out by prosecutors of the Kyiv Region Prosecutor's Office.