Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine exposed a scheme of illegal production and sale of industrial alcohol and tax evasion on a large scale.

The investigation established that officials of one of the companies in Kyiv region, starting in 2019 set up the production of denatured ethyl alcohol on an industrial scale. Subsequently under the guise of ethanol as a component of gasoline and bioethanol it was sold to other business entities both in the customs territory of Ukraine and abroad.

In order to conceal their illegal activities, the officials entered false information into official documents. The estimated amount of tax evasion is over UAH 1 billion.

In order to stop and document the illegal activity, detectives of the ESBU conducted investigative actions at the warehouse, production and administrative premises. As a result of the searches, they found and seized documents of financial and economic activities of the enterprise with contractors, documents on the movement and accounting of products, as well as almost 170 tons of liquid with a characteristic smell of alcohol stored in tanks. The estimated value of the seized alcohol is over UAH 67.5 million.

Currently the necessary investigative and procedural actions aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the committed criminal offenses are being carried out, forensic examinations have been ordered.

The pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings on the grounds of criminal offenses provided for in Part 1 of Art. 204, Part 2 of Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation for the purpose of sale of excise goods) and part 3 of Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (tax evasion) is carried out by detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor general's office.