Over 16,000 packs of illegal tobacco: Organizers of an internet scheme will stand trial

 A network of specialized websites, messenger channels, and regular mail shipments across the country—a pretrial investigation into the activities of a large-scale underground tobacco business—has been completed in Kyiv Oblast. The indictment against the participants in the criminal scheme has already been referred to the court. Joint actions of detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Kyiv region and prosecutors of the oblast prosecutor's office allowed the removal of non-excise products worth over UAH 1.6 million from illegal turnover, as well as a vehicle used for logistics.

The criminal activity was organized by a group of residents who decided to make money on wholesale purchases and subsequent sales of tobacco products without excise tax stamps. To attract buyers, the perpetrators created several online resources and popular Telegram channels. Orders were accepted around the clock, and the delivery of goods to clients was carried out through logistics companies.

The dealers transported large batches of counterfeit goods themselves. For this purpose, they used a cargo minibus, which they regularly used to transport cigarettes from storage locations to post offices and wholesale buyers.

During a series of searches on the territory of Kyiv Oblast, detectives seized more than 16,000 packs of excise goods of dubious quality. All seized material values and the vehicle were arrested by a court decision.

Currently, the materials of the criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 204 of the CC of Ukraine (illegal purchase, storage, transportation, and sale of excise goods, committed by prior conspiracy) with the indictment have been referred to the court.