SBU uncovered and stopped illegal manufacture of the wholesale batches of counterfeit excise goods in Dnipro city.

Allegedly, several group members set up illicit manufacture of hookah tobacco under the guise of a well-known brand. A clandestine workshop the attackers arranged in a rented warehouse on one of the city's industrial bases.

The raw materials for illegal manufacturing were purchased in different regions of Ukraine. The dealers searched their customers in the Internet and transported the finished goods to the clients via postal services.

During searches at the place of counterfeit manufacture and storage, law enforcement officers seized
a batch of finished counterfeit goods, raw materials and equipment for its manufacture, as well as accounting fraud records proving illegal activity.

According to preliminary investigation, the value of the seized products and equipment comprises almost UAH 8,500,000 (USD 303,572).

Within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated under Art.199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, investigation is ongoing in order to bring to justice all the persons involved.

The operation was conducted under the procedural guidance of Dnipropetrovsk Local Prosecutor's Office № 1.