Underground coffee production in the Kyiv region: court issues verdict based on ESBU materials

 Based on evidence gathered by detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Kyiv region, a court has issued a guilty verdict against members of an organized crime group that ran an underground operation producing and selling counterfeit coffee branded as world-famous labels.

The investigation revealed that the suspects had established a large-scale production of counterfeit coffee in warehouses across the Kyiv region without obtaining any licenses, contracts, or trademark authorizations. The fraudulent products were sold wholesale and retail through online platforms, retail outlets, and local markets, being passed off as original goods.

During the pretrial investigation, detectives seized production and packaging equipment, printing machinery, finished products, vehicles, cash, computer hardware, mobile phones, documentation, and records confirming the illegal activity.

The organizer and accomplices were charged under Part 3 of the Art. 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal use of a trademark causing large-scale material damage) and Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 209 (money laundering of criminally obtained assets).

The court found the members of the organized group guilty, sentenced them to imprisonment with a probationary period, and ordered the confiscation and destruction of the counterfeit products.

In addition, six seized vehicles with an estimated value of approximately UAH 4 million were transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Operational support was provided by the Cyberpolice Department of the National Police of Ukraine, with procedural oversight by the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.