The Security Service of Ukraine blocked the scheme of wholesale trade of counterfeit excisable goods in Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv regions. Allegedly, the average monthly turnover of "products" was up to UAH 5 m (USD 180,000).

It was established that managers of a Kyiv company organized the production of ethyl alcohol under the guise of sanitizers and solvents. They set up a logistics center for delivery of counterfeit products in rented warehouses in Dnipropetrovsk region.

Reportedly, the dealers imported from Russia part of the raw materials, necessary for the manufacture of the counterfeit products.

The suspects sold the finished products through their own network of "wholesalers", using forged documents.

During the searches of the suspects’ residences, offices and underground workshops, the law enforcement seized:

• 45 tons of alcohol of dubious quality;
• containers for packing counterfeit products;
• off-the-book records and documentation proving the illegal activities.

The estimated value of the seized counterfeit products is over UAH 2.5 m (USD 90,000).

Currently, the issue of serving the offenders suspicion notices of fraud and illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation for sale of excisable goods is being settled.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the case and bring to justice all the persons involved.

The law enforcement is currently checking the information about the sale of counterfeit products on the territory of temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the SBU Main Directorate of Counterintelligence Protection of the State's Interests in the Sphere of Economic Security together with the Main Department of the State Fiscal Service in Dnipropetrovsk region, under the supervision of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.