The Security Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region has blocked the large-scale production of counterfeit agricultural chemicals. More than 50 tons of counterfeit and poisonous substances were found at underground enterprises.

The operatives of the special service established that the illegal business was organized by the heads of several commercial firms. They made counterfeit drugs to control pests and plant diseases under the guise of trademarks of well-known world and Ukrainian brands.

For the production, the dealers used chemical compounds, which by the world standards, are highly hazardous toxic substances. The criminals sold falsified agrochemicals to farmers throughout Ukraine.

As part of the initiated criminal proceedings, law enforcement officers conducted 14 searches in Kharkiv and the region at the places of production and storage of counterfeits.

During the investigation they found:

• equipment for the production of counterfeit goods;
• finished counterfeit products;
• poisonous raw materials;
• molds with logos of foreign companies;
• labels with drug names and holographic images;
• packaging materials.

The total value of the seized comprises, according to preliminary estimates, more than UAH 5 million.

According to relevant experts, this batch of low-quality products could cause significant damage to agriculture.

The pre-trial investigation is under way.

The operation to expose and document illegal activities was carried out by the SBU Office in Kharkiv region together with investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office.