Over 80,000 vape bottles without excise stamps: the ESBU has completed the investigation into a large-scale distribution scheme

 Four members of the group will stand trial for the illegal storage and sale of liquids for electronic cigarettes without excise tax stamps. The suspects distributed the excisable products through a network of stores in Odesa and Mykolaiv. Detectives of the Main Department of Detectives of the ESBU have completed the pre-trial investigation and forwarded the indictment to court.

According to the investigation, from August 2024 to November 2025, the group members, including a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, illegally stored for the purpose of sale and distributed e-cigarette liquids without excise tax stamps. Additionally, they did not hold licenses to conduct such activities.

During the investigation, ESBU detectives conducted 15 searches in Odesa and Mykolaiv. Law enforcement seized over 80 thousand bottles of liquids for electronic cigarettes, hookah tobacco, mobile phones, computer equipment, and documents. The total value of the seized excise goods exceeds UAH 6 million.

An indictment regarding four individuals has been forwarded to court under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The sanction of the article provides for liability for the illegal manufacture, storage, transportation, or sale of excisable goods committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, as well as the confiscation and destruction of illegally manufactured excisable products.

Operational support was provided by the officers of the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The prosecution was supervised by the prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General.