On September 14 this year, the Prime Minister of Ukraine gave an order to intensify the fight against illegal trafficking of excisable goods, i.e. alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, etc.

An interagency working group was set up to implement this order. The group includes the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, the State Tax Service, the State Customs Service, the State Audit Service, and other agencies including law enforcement.

ESBU coordinates the group and analyzes the results obtained. Analysts of the ESBU monitor the work of all the bodies that are part of the working group around the clock. Coordination meetings are held to adjust the work in a timely manner and improve efficiency. New algorithms of interaction with the bodies performing administrative and controlling functions are being implemented.

The Bureau's analysts also analyze trends in the excisable goods market and monitor changes in budget revenues, identify legislative gaps used by the shadow sector in its illegal activities.

Based on the results of this analysis, the group and the State Tax Service decided to prepare amendments to certain legislative provisions that will not only increase liability for illegal trafficking of excisable goods but also eliminate legal gaps.

The analysis of the data obtained on the results of the interagency group's work shows positive dynamics in all the tasks set by the government. These include combating the illegal trade in excisable goods, exposing large underground industries, and combating illegal channels of tobacco and alcohol supply.

Since the launch of the interagency group, detectives of the Economic Security Bureau have opened 65 criminal proceedings in the field of illegal trafficking of excisable goods, and 22 people have already been served with a notice of suspicion. The courts delivered 13 guilty verdicts. More than 12 thousand decaliters of alcohol, almost 7.5 thousand decaliters of alcoholic beverages, 2.7 million packs of cigarettes more than 620 kg of hookah tobacco, etc. were seized from illicit trafficking.