Since the beginning of 2024, detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine have initiated pre-trial investigations in 514 criminal proceedings in the field of illicit trafficking of excisable goods, 351 of which concerned tobacco products. 381 people were notified of suspicion, and 189 criminal proceedings have already been sent to court. 103 court verdicts have been delivered.

As a result of the conducted searches and inspections, the ESBU detectives seized the following items from illicit trafficking:

- more than 5.1 million packs of cigarettes

- 309 thousand electronic cigarettes

- almost 300 thousand kg of tobacco

- 15 industrial production lines.

The total estimated value of the seized goods is almost UAH 950 million.

The efforts of the detectives were primarily aimed at identifying and shutting down the production of illegal products, as well as blocking the supply channels.

Recently, in Kyiv region, the ESBU detectives stopped a large-scale illegal production of smoking liquids: seized products worth UAH 365 million.

In Odesa region, the ESBU detectives exposed a smuggler who, together with 6 accomplices, organised a scheme for the illegal supply of cigarettes from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and their distribution in Ukraine. During the searches, more than 1 million packs of cigarettes with an estimated value of UAH 120 million were seized.

An industrial line used to manufacture counterfeit cigarettes was seized from the official cigarette manufacturer. The company is linked to a well-known sanctioned smuggler from Odesa.

The ESBU detectives also exposed and served suspicion notices to 5 members of an organised criminal group that set up an international supply channel for counterfeit electronic cigarettes. The searches were conducted in Kyiv and Lviv regions, and almost 300,000 electronic cigarettes and about 10,000 excise stamps with signs of counterfeiting, production equipment, etc. were seized. The estimated value of the seized goods is almost UAH 90 million.

In addition, in 2024, 43 websites selling illegal tobacco products were blocked.

The ESBU detectives seized 34 pieces of equipment and over 395 tonnes of alcoholic beverages and alcohol. The value of the seized goods is over UAH 40 million.

Over 660 tonnes of fuels and lubricants (petrol, gas, diesel) and 46 pieces of equipment used in illegal trafficking were seized from illegal petrol stations and bases. The estimated value of the seized items is almost UAH 84 million.