The SBU blocked a large-scale illegal production and sale of counterfeit disinfectants in Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions.

In early March, operatives of the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region received
information that a group of people tried to supply counterfeit antiseptics to the regional medical institutions, in particular, to a regional children's hospital.

SBU blocked supplies and initiated a criminal proceeding on this case. Pre-trial investigation established that three residents of Zhytomyr city organized illegal production and sale of counterfeit disinfectants in the region.

One of the offenders previously worked at a local company that legally produces antiseptics. They arranged an underground workshop in the rented premises in Zhytomyr industrial area. SBU officers documented that the offenders produced counterfeit disinfectants using unknown materials without any permission documents and quality control.

Another large-scale production of counterfeit antiseptics was established in the non-residential premises on Kyiv outskirts and in Kiev region. The offenders produced not only the Ukrainian antiseptics, but also the EU one.

They sold the counterfeit goods via pharmacies, including communal pharmacies, and online shops under the guise of well-known domestic and European manufacturers of disinfectants.

During the searches in the underground workshops, SBU officers found almost 70,000 liters of ethanol-containing liquid, approximately 10,500 liters of counterfeit products, chemical compounds, packaging, manufacturers' labels and equipment for manufacturing counterfeit disinfectants.

Law enforcement also found accounting documents, the forged seals of 84 business entities and signature clichés of their directors. The seized goods were submitted for examination.

Investigation is ongoing within the initiated criminal proceeding under P.3 Art.191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in order to establish all conditions of the illegal activity.

In view of the COVID-19 situation, law enforcement officers are checking the sale scheme of low-quality antiseptics to pharmacies.

The operation was conducted by operatives of the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the Investigation Department of the Main National Police Directorate under the legal supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.