Millions in profits on unexcised tobacco: an illegal tobacco sales network stopped in the Kyiv region

 In the Kyiv region, the operation of an illegal network of five outlets selling unexcised cigarettes has been stopped. A group of men sold counterfeit tobacco through retail commercial pavilions, receiving millions in profits. Detectives of the TO of the ESBU in the Kyiv region seized over 7 thousand packs of counterfeits worth more than a million hryvnias.

The investigation established that the participants of the scheme organized the illegal acquisition, storage, and sale of tobacco products. They sold them through retail outlets in the Kyiv region, in particular, in the Obukhiv and Brovary districts.

The trade was conducted in cash, without cash registers or receipts. The income was not reflected in the reporting, which allowed them to avoid paying excise tax and accumulate shadow earnings.

During the searches at the retail outlets, not only a large batch of unexcised cigarettes were seized, but also flash drives from cameras and rough accounting records.

The pretrial investigation is currently ongoing under Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal circulation of exciseable goods). Detectives are establishing the full circle of accomplices and supply channels of the counterfeit products.

Procedural guidance is carried out by the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered 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.