In Kharkiv, the police exposed the underground production of fuel: products and equipment for 192 million UAH were seized
Exposure measures were carried out in several stages, as a result of which an organizer, supply channels and sales of low-quality fuel were established. Sold through a network of gas stations and enterprises of the real sector of the economy, in particular the state one.
Operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations in the Kharkiv region of the National Police, together with law enforcement colleagues, carry out the study of the illegal market for the sale of petroleum products. So, during such events, they exposed the “scheme” of sales and production of low-quality fuel.
As the police established, illegal production of fuel on an industrial scale was organized by a private entrepreneur from Kharkiv, attracted the owner of the gas station network and employees of companies in the field of production of petroleum products.
For the manufacture of low-quality “goods”, an underground mini-factory was equipped on the territory of one of the settlements of Kharkiv district. By adding various chemical additives, “gasoline” was obtained, which was sold under the guise of “Euro-95”.
Raw materials were purchased from enterprises of Kharkiv and Sumy regions exclusively for cash. In order to cover up illegal activities, official documents indicated that the subject of purchase is a solvent. Nevertheless, one of the enterprises did not even have the technical capabilities and capacity to produce a stable fraction of gasoline.
In the future, the attackers supplied low-quality fuel to the network of gas stations in Kharkiv and the region and sold it bypassing tax legislation. In addition, they implemented counterfeiting by concluding a number of agreements based on the results of competitive bidding with municipal and state enterprises of the region. The cost of delivered products was much higher than the market. The surplus funds received from the budget were distributed among all participants in the transaction.
Measures to expose the criminal “scheme” were carried out in several stages. According to their results, the operatives, investigators of the regional police and employees of the departments of control over excisable goods of the state tax service in Kyiv and the Kiev region stopped the clandestine production and sale of counterfeit fuel. At the locations of a number of oil bases, refineries, gas stations, in vehicles and places of residence of the defendants, law enforcement officers conducted 32 court-sanctioned searches. They seized special equipment, more than 7.6 tons of fuel and lubricants, in particular 5 tons of additives, “rough” records, financial and economic documentation, money in different currencies.
The total value of the seized property is UAH 192 million.
Within the framework of criminal proceedings, a number of expert studies have already been appointed, and applications for the seizure of the seized property have been sent to the court. After carrying out the necessary procedural actions, the issue of notifying the participants of the “scheme” of suspicion will be resolved.
Pre-trial investigation is carried out under Articles 190 (fraud) and 204 (illegal manufacture and sale of excisable goods) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Its procedural management is carried out by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
Activities continue to work out the “shadow” market for the circulation of excisable products, in particular oil products.
Recall: since the beginning of November, the National Police seized from illegal circulation more than 58 tons of alcoholic products and 545 thousand packs of cigarettes.
Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine
