The SBU blocked large-scale manufacture and sale of counterfeit excisable alcohol in several Ukrainian regions.

Allegedly, a resident of Vinnytsia city and nine of his accomplices organized the illegal business. The offenders set up six underground workshops on the territory of their own households, as well as in rented warehouses in Mohyliv-Podilskyi district of Vinnytsia region. The goods were produced in unsanitary conditions from raw materials of unknown origin. The dealers sold counterfeit via their own website as products of well-known brands throughout Ukraine. They delivered orders to customers by post, as well as by their own car.

According to intelligence, the suspects produced up to 2 tons of counterfeit per day, and sold counterfeit for UAH 10 m. (USD 349,600) monthly.

Law enforcement officers conducted 15 searches at warehouses and workshops in Vinnytsia and Rivne regions. During the searches, the SBU seized more than 31 tons of counterfeit alcohol in bottles, over 22 tons of alcohol, packages with labels of elite alcohol brands, a truck, equipment, draft records, more than UAH 74,000 (USD 2,580) received from illegal activities. The estimated cost of the seized alcohol is almost UAH 10 m. (USD 349,600).

The investigation is ongoing within the criminal proceedings initiated upon the fact of unlawful manufacturing, storage, sale or transportation for selling purposes of excisable goods and fraud.

The origin of raw materials and other persons involved in the manufacture and sale of counterfeit are being established.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Rivne region jointly with the State Fiscal Service under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor's Office.