In Dnipro city, SBU uncovered and blocked a large-scale production and sale of counterfeit law-quality antiseptics, organized by the owner of cosmetic companies. In Ivano-Frankivsk city, a local resident together with four accomplices organized the same illegal business.

Allegedly, the owner of two famous cosmetics companies organized illegal production in Dnipro city. He wanted to make profit from illegal business, given the increased demand for personal protective means and its scarcity.

The businessman arranged an underground workshop in the premises of a sport club.
The offender sold the goods under his brand throughout Ukraine, via web-sites and social networks. Examination established that he showed a permission document for hair lotion production as a permission for antiseptics production in order to sale counterfeit goods.

During the searches in the underground workshop, law enforcement officers found almost 4,000 liters of ethyl accetat-containing liquid, approximately 1,000 liters of 

counterfeit goods, chemical compounds, packaging, manufacturer's labels and equipment for production of counterfeit disinfectants.

The labels stated that the antiseptic was intended to kill pathogens of viruses, including hepatitis A, B, C, as well as influenza and coronavirus.

According to experts of the State Service for Customer Protection, the seized remedy can be used only for disinfection of surfaces and tools, and not for people’s hands.

Investigation is ongoing within the initiated criminal proceeding under P.3 Art.190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in order to establish all conditions of criminal activity. 

In Ivano-Frankivsk city, the offenders mixed and packed counterfeit disinfectants in garage located in city center. They made counterfeit goods without the following formulation prescribed by state standards or specifications. Such disinfectants were not safe and had no antiviral properties.

The offenders sold the counterfeit goods by the piece and in batches via Internet. Couriers delivered it in the city, delivery services – throughout Ukraine. The price fluctuated depending on the order. Attackers sold up to 2,500 antiseptics per day, so that the offenders made daily profit up to UAH 100,000 (USD 3,700).

During the searches in underground workshop and in offenders’ cars, law enforcement seized over 200 liters of ethanol amounting to UAH 50,000 (USD 1,900), almost 1,500 of counterfeit goods (77 liters in total), flavors, dyes, labels, empty plastic containers, which they used for packaging.

Examination of counterfeit goods, establishment of sources and origin of the excisable goods, and identification of all the people involved in the illegal activity are ongoing within the criminal proceedings under P.1 Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Operation was conducted under the legal supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office no.1 of Dnipropetrovsk region and the Prosecutor’s Office of Ivano-Frankivsk region.

We remind that the SBU also blocked a large-scale production and sale of law-quality disinfectants in Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions.