Detectives of the Territorial Department ESBU in the Odesa region exposed a scheme for the illegal production and sale of counterfeit alcohol. Storage places for tobacco products without excise tax stamps were also discovered.

Detectives of the ESBU together with employees of the SSU in the Odesa region conducted 11 authorized searches in places of production and storage of alcoholic beverages.

As a result of the searches, goods worth a total of UAH 10.2 million were seized. Among them were excisable goods worth UAH 5.7 million and equipment worth UAH 4.5 million.

In total, more than 23 thousand liters of alcohol were seized which was in 41 barrels of 200 liters each and 16 barrels of 1000 liters each. The total volume of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in bottles under the guise of wine, vodka and cognac was 660 liters.

Almost 28 thousand packs of tobacco products stored in the apartment and car of one of the members of the organized criminal group were also found.

The pre-trial investigation established that a group of people, including citizens of Ukraine, set up a full cycle of illegal production and sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The finished products were sold at retail in the south of Odesa region.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceeding on the grounds of the offense stipulated by Part 1 Art. 204 (illegal manufacture, storage and transportation with intent to sell excisable goods) is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department of the ESBU in Odesa region under the operational support of the SSU Office in Odesa region and the procedural guidance of the Odesa regional prosecutor's office.