Sold "shadow cigarettes" and alcohol through shops: an entrepreneur from the Odesa region will face trial

 An entrepreneur who organized the sale of illegally manufactured cigarettes and alcohol through retail outlets in the Odesa district will stand trial.

Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region established that at the beginning of 2026, the man purchased 2,487 packs of illegally manufactured tobacco products without excise tax stamps. He transported the products in his own minibus to shops in the village of Yasky, where they were stored for subsequent sale.

The entrepreneur involved retail outlet employees in the sale of the tobacco products.

During the searches in five places of storage and sale of excisable products, detectives seized 2,476 packs of illegally manufactured cigarettes of various trademarks and 270 bottles of vodka. The total value of the seized items is nearly 1.2 million UAH.

The expert examination confirmed that the seized and sold goods do not meet the requirements established by legislation for the circulation and labeling of excisable products.

The suspect has been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—illegal acquisition, storage, and transportation for sale, as well as sale of illegally manufactured spirits, alcohol, tobacco products, or other exciseable goods. The sanction of the article provides for a fine of 5 to 10 thousand tax-free minimum incomes of citizens with confiscation and destruction of the illegally manufactured products.

During the pretrial investigation, the man transferred 100,000 UAH for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Procedural guidance—prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict.