Analysts of the Territorial Department of the Economic Security Bureau in Kyiv region identified and initiated the blocking of eleven websites that sold counterfeit and falsified alcohol and tobacco products.

Users were offered excisable goods of unknown origin under the guise of well-known brands. Most of them were of dubious quality without excise tax stamps or labeled "for duty free sale only", i.e. intended for sale in duty-free shops.

Employees of the ESBU found that the websites were operating without paying taxes and in violation of Ukrainian legislation. In particular they do not contain information on the availability of licenses that would allow online trading in excisable goods.

In order to stop the illegal activity, the analysts of the ESBU sent a letter of recommendation to the State Service for Special communications and information protection of Ukraine to block the mentioned Internet resources. As a result, eleven websites were shut down.

As a reminder the ESBU recently seized counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol worth UAH 2.8 million in Kyiv region.