In Lviv region, the SSU exposed a large-scale scheme of illegal production and distribution of excisable goods. The dealers sold industrial volumes of alcohol products without paying the taxes to the state budget.

According to the investigation, the management of one of the largest regional enterprises is involved in the scheme.

The illegal activity caused tens of millions of UAH in losses to the state.

For production of unaccounted alcohol products, the dealers used premises and unregistered technological equipment on the territory of an industrial facility.

Raw materials from the factory were used to make the counterfeit goods. To hide its shortage, the offenders entered untrue information into the reporting documentation.

The merchandise without excise stamps was sold to affiliated wholesale and retail networks, as well as to recreational facilities.

During the investigative actions at the organizers’ production, office and warehouse premises, the law enforcement uncovered:

• facts of writing-off for clandestine production of wholesale consignments of alcohol,
• almost 9,000 items of counterfeit products ready for sale,
• packaging containers,
• documentation and records with evidence of illegal activity.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 199 (manufacture, storage, purchase, transportation, shipment, import to Ukraine for use in the sale of goods, distribution or sale of counterfeit money, government securities in paper form, state lottery tickets, excise stamps or holographic security features) of the CCU. The pre-trial investigation is underway.

The SSU Lviv Office carried out the operation together with the National Police under the supervision of Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.