Ukrainian Authorities Bust Large-scale Counterfeit Tobacco Products Case

Jan.14.2025
Ukrainian Authorities Bust Large-scale Counterfeit Tobacco Products Case
Ukrainian authorities in Lviv region bust large-scale counterfeit tobacco products trafficking case, seizing over 6,000 e-cigarettes and accessories.

On January 13, the official website of the Ukrainian Economic Security Service announced that officials from the Lviv Region Economic Security Service recently uncovered a large-scale case of counterfeit tobacco products being circulated.

Ukrainian Authorities Bust Large-scale Counterfeit Tobacco Products Case
Ukrainian authorities have seized over 6,000 illegal e-cigarette products. Source: Ukrainian Economic Security Bureau (Бюро економічної безпеки України)


Authorities have discovered that a criminal organization was illegally transporting e-cigarette products through illicit channels at a border checkpoint in the Lviv region. These products were provided by a supplier from a country in the European Union, and were being sold through communication tools such as Telegram and mailed to consumers.

Ukrainian Authorities Bust Large-scale Counterfeit Tobacco Products Case
Ukrainian authorities seized over 6,000 illegal e-cigarette products. Image source: Ukrainian Economic Security Bureau.


Authorities identified the concealed locations of these products after conducting an investigation. Law enforcement officers then conducted searches at multiple warehouses and the residences of related individuals in the city of Kyiv, seizing over 6,000 items including e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and electronic vaporizers, with an estimated value exceeding 3.3 million hryvnias (approximately $80,000).


Currently, this case is undergoing initial criminal investigation in accordance with Article 201-4 of the Ukrainian Penal Code regarding the smuggling of excisable goods, and multiple court appraisals have been assigned.


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