In Odesa, the SBU exposed underground workshop for production of counterfeit tobacco. The offenders stored it in warehouses.

During the searches, law enforcement seized:

• cigarettes without excise tax stamp worth over UAH 3.5 m. (USD 129,300)
• more than three tons of tobacco.

Dealers have sold batches of counterfeit cigarettes throughout Ukraine under the guise of well-known foreign brands. They looked for the clients using Instagram and Telegram.

It is established that illegal activity was organized by representatives of private company which sell hookah tobacco.

According to intelligence, the offenders laundered money via controlled firms.

Currently, the investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances and to bring to justice people involved in the illegal business.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Main Directorate for Fighting Corruption and Organized Crime under the supervision of Podil District Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv.