The Security Service of Ukraine has detected the channel of illegal shipment of wholesale consignments of timber products and foreign tobacco products. The value of the seized goods is over UAH 18 million. Dealers hid contraband cigarettes in artificial lumber cavities.

It was established that the illegal activity was organized by several residents of the western regions of Ukraine. To hide the scheme, the dealers loaded the smuggled goods on the territory of an affiliated commercial structure in the Lviv region.

Further customs clearance of forest products was carried out by dealers on the basis of forged documents in Volyn region.

At the Kovel customs post, law enforcement officers detained a smuggler's truck and seized more than 500 boxes of foreign-made cigarettes, more than 300 m3 of wood, as well as documents issued to fictitious persons.

Investigators of security bodies initiated criminal proceedings under Art. 201-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Investigative actions are underway to bring to justice those involved in illegal activities.

Measures to expose the offense were carried out by officers of the SBU Office in the Volyn region in coordination with the SBU Main Directorate for Counterintelligence Protection of the State’s Interests in the field of Economic Security, together with the Lutsk Border Detachment under the procedural guidance of the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office.