ESBU shut down two more illegal gas stations in Odesa, selling counterfeit fuel

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have shut down two illegal gas stations that were selling counterfeit fuel without any permits.

The investigation established that the owners, operating without licenses or business registration, purchased fuel of unknown origin at significantly lower prices. The suspects then sold the gasoline in various districts of Odesa. To facilitate this, they installed refueling equipment, storage tanks, and fuel dispensers on abandoned sites.

Detectives conducted authorized searches on Yevhena Chykalenka and Tsiolkovsky Streets, where they seized nearly 6,600 liters of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 2.7 tons of A-95 gasoline, and 3.8 tons of diesel fuel, along with fuel dispensers, tanks, equipment, and structures used for the operation of the illegal gas stations.

The total value of the seized assets exceeds UAH 2.2 million.

The illegal gas stations have been completely dismantled.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing under Part 2 of Art. 15 (Attempted criminal offense), Part 2 of Art. 201-4 (Smuggling of excisable goods), and Art. 204 (Illegal manufacture, storage, sale, or transportation for the purpose of sale of excisable goods) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Efforts are underway to identify the full circle of individuals involved in the illegal activities, as well as the supply and distribution channels for the excisable goods.

Operational support is provided by the Strategic Economic Protection Detective Department. Procedural guidance is carried out by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.