Under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, detectives have uncovered and halted the activities of a group of individuals who organized the illegal sale of excise goods in the region.

According to the investigation, the accomplices established the supply and sale of counterfeit tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and smoking liquids through retail outlets, particularly in the city of Bila Tserkva. Sales were conducted exclusively in cash, which allowed them to avoid paying excise tax and to obtain uncontrolled profits.

During the searches, law enforcement seized over 12,000 components for the production of liquids for electronic cigarettes, more than 700 POD systems, nearly 3,000 cartridges with liquids, hookah tobacco, as well as rough accounting records. The estimated value of the seized products is over 3 million hryvnias.

Pre-trial investigation is being conducted under Part 3 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal storage, transportation, or sale of excise goods for the purpose of sale. Currently, the full circle of individuals involved in the illegal activities, as well as the channels for supplying counterfeit products, is being established.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.