Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine exposed a large-scale scheme of selling illegal e-cigarettes and hookah tobacco in Kyiv region.

The goods were imported into Ukraine in violation of customs legislation and without excise tax stamps.

The investigation identified a group of people who organized the transportation of e-cigarettes and hookah tobacco for further retail sale.

Detectives conducted urgent searches of two trucks. During the inspection, they seized 677 cardboard boxes and 22 construction bags with electronic tobacco products.

The estimated cost of the seized counterfeit is about UAH 100 million.

Also, the circumstances of the fact of forgery of the excise tax stamp by the said persons are being established.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings on the grounds of the offense stipulated by Part 2 Article 199 and Part 1 Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department ESBU in Kyiv and Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

ESBU recently seized e-cigarettes worth UAH 6 million in Kyiv region. Read more https://esbu.gov.ua/en/news/in-the-kyiv-region-the-esbu-seized-uah-6-million-worth-of-electronic-cigarettes