Underground tobacco workshop in Ternopil region: ESBU notifies organizer of suspicion

 Illegal tobacco production in the Ternopil region was uncovered by detectives from the Main Detectives Department of the ESBU. The organizer has been notified of suspicion. During the searches, over 3 tons of tobacco raw materials and equipment used to manufacture and package excise-taxable products were seized.

The investigation established that the suspect organized the illegal tobacco production on the premises of a property complex in the Ternopil region. Excise-taxable products were manufactured, packaged, and stored there for subsequent sale.

During the searches, detectives seized the equipment used for manufacturing and packaging the tobacco raw materials, as well as over 3 tons of tobacco with an estimated value of more than UAH 2.7 million.

Thanks to the timely actions of the detectives, the distribution of counterfeit excise-taxable raw materials, which could have been used to illegally manufacture over 3.5 million cigarettes, was successfully prevented.

The suspect was notified of suspicion under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal manufacture and illegal storage for the purpose of sale of illegally manufactured tobacco and tobacco products).

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. All circumstances of the criminal offense and other individuals who may be involved in the unlawful activity are being determined.

The prosecution is overseen by prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office. Operational support is provided by the Department of Detectives for Strategic Economic Protection of the ESBU and the 7th Department (serving the Kharkiv Region) of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police.

We remind you that in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a criminal offense until their guilt is proven in a legally prescribed manner and established by a court verdict of guilty that has entered into force.