Large-scale sale of counterfeit fuel in the Kyiv region: ESBU has referred a case against an organized group to the court

 Five members of an organized criminal group who set up a large-scale scheme for the illegal sale of counterfeit fuel in the Kyiv region will stand trial. Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau in the Kyiv region have completed the pre-trial investigation.

The investigation established that the illegally produced fuel was stored at an oil depot in the Bila Tserkva district of the Kyiv region. Subsequently, it was sold through a network of controlled gas stations.

The gas stations operated without the required quality certificates for the fuel, and the sale of excise goods was not reflected in financial and tax reporting.

During authorized searches at the gas stations and the oil refinery, ESBU detectives seized over 57,000 liters of gasoline, nearly 85,000 liters of diesel fuel, and 4,500 liters of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Additionally, 29 fuel storage tanks, a gas dispensing unit, six fuel dispensers, pumping equipment, and trucks with tank trailers used for transporting fuel were seized.

In addition, during searches at the residences of the suspects, financial and economic documentation, rough notes, mobile phones, and cash were seized.

The value of the seized fuel and lubricants exceeds UAH 8 million.

The suspects were notified of suspicion of committing a criminal offense stipulated by Part 3 of Article 28 and Part 1, and Part 2 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal trafficking of excise goods committed by an organized group). The indictment has been forwarded to the court.

Operational support is provided by employees of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Kyiv Region of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police. Procedural oversight is conducted by prosecutors of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Please note that 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 verdict of conviction.