Illegal smuggling of cigarettes by train to Poland: ESBU in the Volyn completes pre-trial investigation

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Volyn region have filed indictments with the court against three residents of the region involved in organizing the illegal movement of tobacco products to the Republic of Poland.

The criminal proceedings were initiated based on a request from the competent authority of the Republic of Poland in accordance with Article 54 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland on Legal Assistance in Civil and Criminal Matters.

The investigation established that the illegally manufactured tobacco products were transported in specially equipped hidden compartments of the carriages of an international passenger train on the Kyiv–Warsaw route, traveling through the "Yahodyn–Dorohusk" checkpoint.

After crossing the state border, as the train was moving near a forest belt, the men threw out packages of counterfeit cigarettes, which were then picked up by accomplices for further transportation and sale within Poland.

Within the criminal proceedings, more than 60 episodes of illegal tobacco product transportation have been documented. The total volume of contraband amounted to 79 bags and approximately 85,000 packs of cigarettes without excise tax stamps.

Three individuals have been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of the Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal acquisition for the purpose of sale, storage, and transportation of illegally manufactured tobacco products.

Prosecutorial supervision is provided by the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office.