Large-scale sale of counterfeit cigarettes in the Kyiv region: ESBU refers the case against a criminal group of individuals to the court

 Members of a criminal group who organized a distribution network for illegally manufactured tobacco products in the Kyiv region will stand trial. Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Kyiv region have completed the pre-trial investigation. During the investigation, counterfeit tobacco products with an estimated value of over 5.5 million UAH were seized.

According to the investigation, the individuals supplied counterfeit tobacco products. They sold them through retail outlets in the Kyiv region, specifically in the Bucha, Obukhiv, Boryspil, and Vyshhorod districts.

The excisable goods were sold off the books. The operations were not reflected in accounting and tax reporting. This allowed them to avoid paying excise tax and receive unrecorded profit.

During investigative actions in the commercial premises, ESBU detectives seized almost 37 thousand packs of cigarettes without excise tax stamps, rough notes, and computer equipment.

In addition, detectives conducted searches at the residences of the individuals involved, as well as in the vehicles used to transport the products. The specified vehicles were seized. At the same time, the illegal kiosks through which the counterfeit products were sold were dismantled.

The individuals were notified of suspicion of committing a criminal offense stipulated by part 2 of article 28 and part 1 of article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal circulation of excisable goods committed by an organized group). The indictment has been referred to the court.

Operational support was provided by employees of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Kyiv region of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine. Prosecutorial guidance was provided by prosecutors of the Kyiv 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 guilty verdict.