Within the pre-trail investigation, the SBU stopped unlawful activity of a criminal group that organized illegal production of tobacco products.

Allegedly, the group organized the illegal manufacture of excise goods in order to sale it in Ukraine, as well as to smuggle through the Ukrainian customs border to the EU.

During investigation, searches in production and storage facilities, law enforcement officers found over 12,000 boxes with nearly 6 million of counterfeit cigarette packs under the guise of the well-known international brands totaling UAH 97.2 million (USD 3.6 million). The offenders planned to smuggle a part of goods to the EU countries.

The investigation is ongoing under P.2 Art. 28, P.2 Art. 204, P.2 Art.364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. People involved in illegal activity are being identified. 

The operation was conducted by the Main Department for Fighting Corruption and Organized Crime, by the SBU Office in Poltava region under the legal supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Poltava region.