In Vinnytsia region, the SBU exposed and documented a large-scale scheme related to money laundering and transferring funds abroad. The suspects managed to obtain almost UAH 20 m (USD 714,286) every year.

The illegal scheme was organized by the owner of a home appliance retail chain. Following his instructions, during 2019-2021, his subordinates were transferring sales revenues to the accounts of bogus NGOs in violation of law. After that, they were laundering money via several dozens of affiliated individual entrepreneurs.

The suspects transferred part of funds into cash, another part they transferred to a foreign account of the retail chain owner. The perpetrators made small transactions to avoid paying taxes.

According to the State Financial Monitoring Service, the state suffered over UAH 12 m (USD 714,286) losses due to the illegal activities.

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

• almost sixty seals of individual entrepreneurs;
• draft accounting records;
• bank cards;
• computers with evidence of illegal activity.

Within the criminal proceedings initiated upon tax evasion, investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all those involved.

SBU is taking appropriate measures to seize the confiscated property, block the accounts of the involved entities and compensate damages to the state.

The operation was carried out jointly with the Investigation Department of the State Fiscal Service in Kyiv city under the supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.