In Kirovohrad region, the SBU blocked the activities of a criminal group producing and selling petroleum goods of dubious quality without the appropriate permits. The monthly turnover of the illegal oil refinery exceeded UAH 1 m (USD 35,700).

The SBU established that the illegal business was organized by a resident of Holovanivsk district of Kirovohrag region together with two accomplices. To manufacture counterfeit fuel on an industrial scale, the offenders illegally used the facilities of a legal refinery. Afterwards, they sold unaccounted gasoline and diesel fuel via a number of subsidiaries. Thus, the group members sold the counterfeit goods under the guise of solvents and other derivatives of petroleum goods, which are not liable to excise duty.

During the searches of the underground production facility, law enforcement officers seized equipment used for illegal fuel production, almost 100,000 liters of crude oil, as well as 120,000 liters of diesel fuel and 24,500 liters of gasoline.

As a result, SBU investigators seized counterfeit goods worth almost UAH 5.7 m (USD 203,570).

The organizer and two accomplices received suspicion notices of unlawful manufacturing, storage, sale or transportation for selling purposes of excisable goods committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy.

The operation was carried out jointly with the Main Department of the State Fiscal Service in Kirovohrad region under the supervision of the Kirovohrad Region Prosecutor's Office.