Detectives of the Territorial Department of the ESBU in Zakarpattia region exposed an oil refinery that produced counterfeit fuel. The involvement of a relative of Medvedchuk who previously headed the local branch of the banned OPFL party in organising the illegal operation of the refinery is being checked.

It was established that officials of the Kyiv enterprise which had a permit only for wholesale trade in fuel organised its illegal production in Mukachevo.

The director of the company involved a group of people in the scheme each of whom was responsible for a different area of work: managers, financiers, technicians, etc. Raw materials were purchased from Ukrainian suppliers and processed at the plant. The counterfeit fuel was sold through controlled petrol stations.

Detectivesof the ESBU together with the Regional office of the SSU and the Zakarpattia regional Prosecutor's Office with the involvement of specialists from the relevant services conducted 18 authorised searches at the refinery and in the residences of the involved persons.

As a result of the searches law enforcement officers found and seized almost 600 tonnes of fuel worth over UAH 32 million, equipment for its production, draft records, seals, over UAH 3.3 million in cash, vehicles, etc.

The pre-trial investigation under Art. 204 and Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is ongoing.

The procedural supervision is carried out by prosecutors of the Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office.