Over 22.5 thousand packs of counterfeit cigarettes did not reach the market in Bukovina

 A resident of Bukovina purchased over 22.5 thousand packs of counterfeit cigarettes without excise tax stamps via the internet for subsequent sale in the region. The estimated value of the illegal products exceeds 1.1 million UAH.

The goods were delivered to one of the post offices in the village of Kelmentsi, Chernivtsi region. To pick up and transport the counterfeit items, the man hired a driver with a truck, concealing the actual contents of the boxes from him. However, the man failed to deliver the illegal cargo to its destination.

As soon as the car left the territory of the post office, it was stopped by detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Chernivtsi region together with border guards.

During the inspection of the car, 30 cardboard boxes with non-excise cigarettes were detected. The examination confirmed that the seized products do not comply with quality standards and legislative requirements.

Based on this fact, ESBU detectives notified the Bukovina resident of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal acquisition and transportation for sale of illegally manufactured tobacco products). All cigarettes, as well as the car used to transport them, were seized.

The pretrial investigation is ongoing.

The exposure of the offense was carried out under the operational support of the 31st Border Guard Detachment of the SBGS and under the procedural guidance of the Chernivtsi 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.