The ESBU has liquidated a counterfeit cigarette sales network in the Kyiv region: goods worth over UAH 5.5 million were seized
Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Kyiv region have exposed a group of individuals who organized a distribution network for illegally manufactured tobacco products. During the searches, excise goods valued at over UAH 5.5 million were seized.
According to the investigation, the suspects supplied counterfeit tobacco products and sold them through retail outlets in the Kyiv region, specifically in the Bucha, Obukhiv, Boryspil, and Vyshhorod districts.
The excise goods were sold off the books. These operations were not reflected in accounting or tax reports, allowing the suspects to evade excise tax and generate unaccounted profits.
During investigative actions in the retail premises, ESBU detectives seized nearly 37,000 packs of cigarettes without excise tax stamps, as well as rough records and computer equipment.
In addition, detectives conducted searches at the suspects' places of residence and in the vehicles used to transport the products. These vehicles were seized. Simultaneously, illegal small architectural forms (MAFs) through which the counterfeit products were sold were dismantled.
A pre-trial investigation is currently ongoing under Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal storage, sale, or transportation with the intent to sell excise goods). The full circle of individuals involved in the scheme and the sources of the counterfeit products are being established.
Operational support was provided by officers of the Strategic Investigations Department (DSR) in the Kyiv region of the National Police of Ukraine.
Procedural oversight is carried out by prosecutors of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven through legal procedures and established by a court's verdict of conviction.
