SBU Main Directorate of economic counter-intelligence protection of the state's interests jointly with the SBU Office in Volyn region exposed large-scale production and sale of excisable products - counterfeit alcohol in several regions of Ukraine.

Allegedly, residents of Volyn and Kyiv regions set up an underground lab in industrial area of Obukhiv City in Kyiv region, where they illegally produced ethyl alcohol. The dealers produced up to 30 tonnes of raw material worth almost UAH 1 million (USD 38,500) per month.

50% of the produced alcohol were sent to the associates in western regions of Ukraine via postal couriers, another 50% were sold to illegal alcohol manufacturers all over Ukraine.

During the investigative measures in Lutsk only, it was established that the underground lab was set up in the basement of a suspect’s residence.  The counterfeit alcohol was produced in unsanitary conditions, using denatured alcohol, flavoring and coloring of dubious quality.

The dealers sold hazardous to people’s life and health counterfeit alcohol under the brands of the well-known Ukrainian producers to retailer networks.

During searches at the underground labs and storing places, the law enforcement seized over 15 tonnes of counterfeit alcohol, 25 boxes of counterfeit vodka products and over 1000 presumably forged excise labels.

The seized items were sent for further examination.

The criminal case is initiated upon the facts of unlawful manufacturing, storage, sale or transportation for selling purposes of excisable goods and making, storage, purchase, transportation, mailing, or bringing into Ukraine for selling purposes, or sale of counterfeit money, government securities, state lottery tickets, excise stamps or holographic indicators (P. 2 Art. 199, P. 1, 2 of Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The investigation is ongoing to check whether the counterfeit alcohol was sold in another regions of Ukraine.