Large-scale scheme counterfeiting global agrochemical brands dismantled: ESBU refers the case to the court

 Members of an organized criminal group will stand trial for establishing the large-scale production and sale of counterfeit agrochemicals disguised as products of well-known global brands.

Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Kyiv region have completed a pretrial investigation into the members of the organized criminal group who organized a full-cycle operation for manufacturing falsified plant protection products.

The investigation established that the perpetrators had significant experience in the agricultural sector and detailed knowledge of the agro-products market. In unsuitable premises in the Cherkasy region, they manually mixed unknown chemicals, food additives, and even construction mixtures. In this manner, the scammers manufactured dangerous counterfeits disguised as high-quality fertilizers.

The finished products were packed into counterfeit containers and labeled with branded logos. The counterfeit goods were sold to agricultural enterprises across Ukraine via the internet, messaging apps, and postal operators.

During authorized searches, ESBU detectives seized large batches of the finished counterfeit products, over 2,000 units of branded packaging containers, specialized bottling equipment, raw materials, and significant amounts of cash. Conducted expert evaluations confirmed that the damages caused to just one of the trademark owners totaled UAH 2 million.

Currently, three members of the organized criminal group have been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 209 (legalization of property obtained through crime) and Part 3 of Article 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful use of a trademark for goods and services or a trade name, if it caused material damage on an especially large scale, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy). The materials of the criminal proceedings, along with the indictment, have been referred to court.

Operational support was provided by officers of the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine. The prosecution is overseen by prosecutors from the Specialized Ecological Prosecutor's Office of the Office of the Prosecutor General.