SBU uncovered and stopped illegal manufacture and sale of the wholesale batches of counterfeit alcohol and tobacco goods in Kyiv region.

Allegedly, the group of residents of Bila Tserkva city organized illegal manufacture of the counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes for sale. They arranged underground shops in the premises of a local garages and in the relatives’ house of an offender.

Offenders planned to sell the counterfeit goods under the guise of the Ukrainian and foreign brands in the regional retail stores.

During the searches in the offenders’ residences and underground shops law enforcement officers found 1.2 tons of alcohol, over seven tons of alcohol beverages and almost seven thousand of counterfeit cigarette packs. Also, SBU officers seized all equipment and packaging for manufacture of alcohol.

The cost of uncovered goods is almost UAH 1,000,000 (USD 37,000).

All the potentially life-threatening counterfeit goods are seized.

The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the offenders stipulated under P.3 Art. 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is now being settled.

Investigation is ongoing.

Operation was conducted jointly with the investigators of Bila Tserkva Police Division under the legal supervision of Bila Tserkva Prosecutor’s Office.