Illegal vapes and liquids worth 5 million: a large-scale sales network was exposed in Poltava

 The operations of 14 retail pavilions selling electronic cigarettes and e-liquids of questionable origin and without any authorization documents have been shut down in Poltava.

Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Poltava region dismantled a network of retail outlets selling excise goods without permits or licenses. During the searches, excise products and components for their manufacture worth approximately 5 million UAH were seized.

According to the investigation, a group of individuals from Poltava and Kharkiv organized a network of 14 kiosks in the city, where they sold electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, and components without appropriate authorization documents, excise stamps, or fiscal receipts.

As part of the pretrial investigation, ESBU detectives conducted authorized searches in the retail pavilions and product storage facilities.

During the investigative actions, over 1,100 disposable electronic cigarettes, more than 1,300 bottles of finished e-liquids, approximately 400 sets of electronic cigarette components, and nearly 30,000 bottles of manufacturing ingredients, including glycerin, nicotine boosters, and flavorings, were seized. Cash and mobile phones were also confiscated.

The total value of the products seized from illicit circulation is approximately 5 million UAH.

Currently, a pretrial investigation is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 199 and Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture and sale of excise goods, as well as the use of illegally manufactured excise tax stamps).

ESBU detectives are establishing all individuals involved in organizing and operating the illegal business.

Operational support is provided by officers of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Poltava Region of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural guidance is carried out by the Poltava Regional Prosecutor's Office.

In accordance with 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 a legally prescribed manner and established by a court's verdict of conviction.