Detectives of the Territorial Department ESBU in Kyiv region exposed and stopped the criminal activity of a group of people who organized an underground network for the sale of counterfeit tobacco products.

The investigation established that a group of people organized the supply of illegally manufactured tobacco products without excise stamps. The counterfeit products were sold through retail outlets in Kyiv region in particular in Obukhiv and Bila Tserkva.

As a result of searches at the places of storage and sale more than 2 thousand e-cigarettes, almost 10 thousand containers with e-liquids, components in the amount of more than 3.5 thousand, hookah tobacco, and cash in the amount of UAH 5.6 thousand were seized from illicit trafficking.

The estimated value of the seized goods is almost UAH 7 million.

The detectives are currently taking measures to establish the location of the production facilities where the tobacco products were manufactured the routes of their transportation and sale as well, as the full range of persons involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of excisable goods.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceeding on the grounds of a criminal offense stipulated by Part 1 Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal purchase with intent to sell or storage for this purpose, as well as sale or transportation with intent to sell illegally manufactured tobacco products, tobacco or other excisable goods) is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department ESBUin Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of prosecutors of the Kyiv region prosecutor's office and operational support of the Strategic Investigations Department in Kyiv region.