Detectives of the Territorial Department Economic Security Bureau in Lviv region stopped the illegal production of cigarettes in Odesa region. Three members of an organized criminal group were served a notice of suspicion for illegal manufacture, storage and sale of tobacco products.

The investigation established that in March 2023, three people organized a large-scale clandestine production of tobacco products in a village of Odesa region. They installed special equipment for the manufacture and packaging of illegally produced excisable goods in an underground workshop. The counterfeit cigarettes were packed in packs with a well-known trademark. The illegal enterprise had the capacity to produce 5,000 cigarettes per hour.

During the searches in the workshop, detectives found and seized an industrial production line worth approximately UAH 21 million. They also seized over 7 thousand tons of tobacco raw materials worth over UAH 1 million. In addition, more than 280 thousand packs of counterfeit cigarettes were seized with a total value of over UAH 5 million. The total value of the seized industrial equipment, tobacco products and raw materials from the territory of the illegal enterprise is approximately over UAH 28 million. The members of the organized group were served a notice of suspicion.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings on the grounds of criminal offenses stipulated by Part 1, 2 Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation with intent to sell excisable goods) Part 3 Art. 28 (committing a criminal offense by a group of persons, by prior conspiracy, by an organized group or criminal organization) Part 3 Art. 15 (attempted criminal offense) Part 3 Art. 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal use of a trademark, trade name, qualified indication of the origin of goods) was carried out by detectives of the Territorial Department ESBU in Lviv region under the operational support of the Strategic investigations department in Lviv region of the National Police of Ukraine and the procedural guidance of the Lviv regional Prosecutor's Office.