Detectives of the Main Detective Unit of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 Art. 28, Part 2 Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to 4 persons who organized illegal production of cigarettes on an industrial scale. The issue of choosing a measure of restraint for the suspects is currently being decided.

It was established that the group members organized an underground production facility in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and equipped it with special equipment.

During the searches the detectives seized a cigarette production line, a machine for packing tobacco products into packs,other equipment and 2.2 tons of tobacco. Almost 400 thousand packs of finished tobacco products without excise stamps were also seized.

The illegally manufactured cigarettes were sold both in Ukraine and in the EU.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Procedural supervision is carried out by prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's Office. The SSU is providing operational support.