To counter shadowing of the economy, the SBU blocked the illegal sale of wholesale batches of counterfeit cigarettes manufactured in separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and temporarily annexed Crimea.

Allegedly, a businesswoman from the city of Kramatorsk organized illegal deliveries of counterfeit goods through the contact line from Donetsk, Luhansk, and the AR of Crimea. She also set up smuggling of excisable goods from several neighboring countries. According to intelligence, the offender delivered the counterfeit to retail shops in the Donetsk region.

During searches in two garages where the counterfeit was stored and at the places of sale, SBU operatives seized a large consignment of illegal goods. It is about 75,000 cigarette packs without excise stamps amounting to UAH 4 m (circa USD 143,000).

Criminal proceedings were initiated for unlawful manufacturing, storage, sale or transportation for selling purposes of excisable goods. The issue to seize the counterfeit tobacco products is being settled.

Investigative actions are underway. All the circumstances and individuals involved in smuggling of counterfeit across the contact line are being established.

The operation was carried out jointly with the Main SFS Department in Donetsk region, regional health center of the ATO area of the Main SFS Department, the National Police, operative and investigative units of the State Tax Service and Donetsk Region Prosecutor's Office.