The ESBU in Zakarpattia referred a case of illegal tobacco and alcohol trafficking worth over UAH 2.8 million to the court

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Zakarpattia region have completed a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings regarding the illegal acquisition, storage, and transportation for sale of tobacco products without Ukrainian excise duty stamps.

The investigation established that the illegal activities were carried out by a group of three individuals. Additionally, one of the suspects was involved in the acquisition and storage of tobacco products with counterfeit Ukrainian excise stamps, as well as in the sale of alcoholic beverages without excise stamps.

During the investigative actions, detectives seized 6,000 packs of tobacco products without excise stamps, 15,950 packs with counterfeit stamps, and 7,190 liters of illicitly produced alcoholic beverages from illegal circulation.

The total value of the seized products exceeds UAH 2.8 million. Additionally, assets worth over UAH 3 million were seized as part of the investigation.

The indictment against the three individuals has been referred to court on charges of criminal offenses under Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture and sale of excise goods committed by a group of persons), Part 1 of Article. 204 (illegal manufacture, storage, and sale of excise goods), and Part 1 of Art. 199 (storage and sale of goods with counterfeit excise duty stamps).

The proceedings were supervised by the Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed 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's verdict of guilty.