The working meeting was attended by Viktor Lysenko, Head of the Economic Crime Detectives Unit in the field of excisable goods circulation of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, Yevhen Dubovyi, Acting Deputy Head of the Information Analysis and Risk Management Department of the ESBU, Volodymyr Tsenov, Deputy Head of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine, and members of the Ukrainian Association of Tobacco Manufacturers «Ukrtyutyun».

During the event, law enforcement officers and representatives of the tobacco industry discussed topical issues of combating the illegal market of excisable products and identified ways of further cooperation in de-shadowing the market. In particular, they discussed legislative initiatives and the results of law enforcement work in this area.

According to Viktor Lysenko, Head of the ESBU Economic Crime Detectives Unit for the Protection of the Economy in the Sphere of Circulation of Excisable Goods, law enforcement officers seized more than 14 million packs of cigarettes during the work of the interagency working group. Of these, over 8.8 million were seized by the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine. In addition, detectives seized 380,000 e-cigarettes and over 69 tonnes of tobacco.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of legal tobacco manufacturers stressed the importance of a constructive dialogue between the agencies and the association and expressed their gratitude to law enforcement for systematic counteraction to the illegal tobacco market.

For reference: in September 2023, the Prime Minister of Ukraine gave an order to intensify the fight against the illicit trafficking of excisable goods, i.e. alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, etc.

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