The SSU officers disrupted illegal activity of a group that set up a channel for illegal import and sale of falsified medications in Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the ‘business’ was organized by natives of Luhansk. The group specialized in drugs for cancer patients.

For almost a year, the fraudsters illegally imported counterfeit medications from abroad, disguising them as products of well-known manufacturers, as well as drugs not registered and banned from sale in Ukraine, produced in Russia and Belarus.

The ‘goods’ were delivered to Ukraine by international buses and planes, and a warehouse in Kyiv was rented for storage.

Counterfeit medications were sold through online pharmacies.

During the searches conducted at the storage facility and at the actual residences of the offenders in Kyiv and Lviv, the law enforcement seized:

• a large number of medications, including falsified and unregistered drugs produced in Russia and Belarus worth total of UAH 1 mln (USD 37,000);
• cash;
• computer equipment, mobile phones and SIM cards with evidence of illegal activity;
• bank cards to receive payments from customers.

One of the group members has been notified of suspicion of an offence under Article 321-1 (falsification of medications or circulation of falsified medicines) of the CCU. The court is to decide on the measure of restraint.

The SSU Cyber Security Department carried out the operation jointly with the National Police investigators under the supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.