The Security Service of Ukraine blocked in Vinnytsia region activities of an organized group that illegally manufacture and sale counterfeit excisable goods of poor quality.

Allegedly, the illicit business was set up by four residents of the region. The attackers arranged clandestine workshops for the production of surrogate alcohol for sale in the rented warehouses, which were located in different areas of the regional center.

The finished products were offered on specialized Internet platforms under the guise of well-known world brands. Moreover, customers received goods from one of the interregional courier services.

According to intelligence, the production capacity of the workshops was almost 2000 L / d.

During searches in places of underground manufacture of bootleg goods, law enforcement officers seized almost 20 tons of alcohol of dubious quality, about 5,000 liters of finished surrogate, equipment for bottling and filling drinks, containers and chemical flavors. The computer equipment and mobile phones proving their illegal activity were found as well.

The cost of seized materials and finished goods is estimated to almost UAH 3,000,000 (USD 111,112).

Currently, the offenders are suspected of committing crime under Art.204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Investigative actions are ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the case.

The operation was conducted together with the State Fiscal Service investigators under the legal supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Vinnytsia region.