In Odesa region, the SBU blocked a large-scale smuggling of ethanol from unrecognized Transnistria.

The SBU operatives established that several residents of the region organized illegal supply of alcohol avoiding check-points at the state border. According to intelligence, the offenders ordered the wholesale batches of alcohol from foreign accomplices and sold it to local underground producers of vodka.

The law enforcement detained two trucks with 6 tons of ethanol and equipment for its pumping during delivery of alcohol to the client from Odesa. According to preliminary estimates, the total cost of seized alcohol, equipment and vehicles tops UAH 1.4 million (USD 51,850).

Investigation is underway. The SBU is checking all circumstances of illegal activity.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Department for Combating Smuggling of the State Customs Service and the Main Office of the State Fiscal Service in Odesa region.