In Zhytomyr, law enforcement officers stopped large-scale production of counterfeit excisable goods
According to operational information, the turnover of the shadow business for the production of e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco and vaping liquids reached an average of 5 million hryvnias per month, and it “operated” for at least about a year.
It was established that the owners of the “business” organized the purchase of raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials for the subsequent production of excisable goods, but they did not have the appropriate licenses for conducting this type of activity. The whole process took place in rented premises in the center of Zhytomyr, adapted for workshops and warehouses in violation of technological and sanitary norms. In the future, the products were sold through online platforms on the Internet.
Investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the region, together with the employees of the regional USBU and under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office, conducted about a dozen searches in the locations of illegal shops, warehouses and residences of persons involved in illegal activities.
During the investigation, the police seized equipment, components and finished products with a total value of about 30 million hryvnias, computer equipment, bank documents, rough accounting, seals, mobile terminals, cash almost 2.5 million hryvnias, more than 57 thousand US dollars and 4.6 thousand euros.
Currently, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing under Part 3 of Art. 204 (Illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation for the purpose of sale of excisable goods) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Police officers establish all circumstances of illegal activity and persons involved in it.
National Police of Ukraine
