Illegal sale of vapes and hookah tobacco: ESBU conducts searches across 10 locations in Chernihiv

 Illegal vapes, liquids, and other excise goods of unknown origin are not just about the shadow economy. Such products can pose a health risk to consumers, as their ingredients and manufacturing conditions often remain completely unregulated.

Detectives from the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Chernivtsi region have shut down the operations of a group of individuals who organized the illegal trafficking of such products in the regional capital. The estimated value of the seized goods exceeds UAH 2.3 million.

As part of the pretrial investigation, the ESBU conducted searches across 10 locations in Chernivtsi, including retail outlets, warehouses, residences, and vehicles of the suspects.

The investigation established that the participants of the scheme organized the illegal acquisition, storage, and sale of electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, POD systems, components, flavorings, and hookah tobacco, including nicotine-containing products prohibited in Ukraine.

The sales were conducted without the appropriate licenses for the circulation of excise goods. In addition, the merchandise was of unknown origin and was sold without excise tax stamps.

The products were distributed through retail outlets at the Kalynivskyi market, vape shops in the city center, and anonymous Telegram channels.

As a result of the searches, 1,282 e-liquids, 857 flavorings, 600 electronic cigarettes, 211 POD systems, 77 cartridges, 32 packs of nicotine pouches, over 369 kg of hookah tobacco, and 86 e-cigarette refills were seized. The estimated value of the confiscated products exceeds UAH 2.3 million.

Operational support is provided by officers of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Chernivtsi region and the Security Service of Ukraine in the Chernivtsi region.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court's verdict of guilty.