Illegal e-cigarettes worth $270,000 seized in Lviv smuggling bust

Oct.24.2024

Ukrainian police uncover illegal e-cigarette sales scheme worth over 11 million hryvnias involving the "ELFBAR" brand. Several raids were carried out.

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities in the Lviv region uncovered a case of illegal e-cigarette sales and seized related products worth more than 11 million hryvnia (about $270,000), Vysokiy Zamok reported on 23 October. The seized products included the "ELFBAR" brand of e-cigarettes.

In this case, a criminal gang smuggled e-cigarettes into the country through the border checkpoints of Lviv and Volyn, bypassing customs inspections. According to a report from the Lviv Economic Security Bureau (BEB), these e-cigarette products and their nicotine-containing e-liquids are primarily sold on Telegram, with suppliers coming from the European Union.

Authorities searched several vehicles, warehouses and residences of individuals involved in the case. More than 17,000 e-cigarettes, electronic vaporizers and related e-liquids were seized, with an estimated value of more than 11 million grovnas.

The criminal investigation into the case is ongoing, and the suspects may have committed offences under Article 201-4(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Several forensic investigations have been commissioned to further clarify responsibilities.

References:

[1] На Львівщині на 11 млн грн викрили незаконну схему продажу електронних сигарет

Also Read:

[1] Polish Citizen Caught Smuggling $3.5 Million Worth of E-cigarette Liquid

[2] Illegal Distribution of Taxable Products Uncovered in Odessa Region

[3] Crime ring busted for selling counterfeit e-cigarettes in Ukraine

[4] Ukrainian Customs Official Investigated for Alleged E-Cigarette Smuggling

[5] Ukraine Border Patrol Seizes Millions Worth of Illegal Tobacco

[6] Illegal e-Cigarette-Liquid Factory Raided by Ukrainian Economic Security Agency

[7] Large-scale illegal production of e-cigarette-liquid discovered in Ukraine.

[8] Ukraine Uncovers Smuggling of $220,000 Worth of Multibrand E-Cigarettes from EU

#Europe #Law enforcement #E-cigarettes #Ukraine

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