Key Takeaways
- Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General and the Bureau of Economic Security said they uncovered an illegal e-liquid production and sales network operating since 2023.
- Prosecutors said the group organized a full illegal circulation chain for nicotine-containing mixtures and sold non-tobacco flavored liquids banned in Ukraine.
- The products were distributed through physical sales points and online stores, and the operation involved more than 200 people.
- Authorities carried out more than 70 simultaneous searches in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
- The seized property was valued at about UAH 30 million (approximately USD 690,000.00, based on 1 UAH = 0.023 USD, user-provided rate).
2Firsts, April 14, 2026
According to information released by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General and the Bureau of Economic Security uncovered an illegal production and sales scheme for e-cigarette liquids that had been operating in Ukraine since 2023.
Prosecutors said the group built a full illegal circulation chain
According to the statement, the criminal group organized a full cycle of illegal circulation of nicotine-containing mixtures. Prosecutors also said the group sold flavored liquids banned in Ukraine, meaning liquids with flavors other than tobacco.
The statement said the illegal products were distributed through a branched sales system, including physical sales points and online stores operated by the network. More than 200 people were involved in supporting the illegal business.
Authorities carried out more than 70 simultaneous searches
During the special operation, authorities conducted more than 70 simultaneous searches in Kyiv and in the Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
According to the statement, investigative actions took place at the homes of the organizers, production sites, and sales points for finished products.
Flavorings, cartridges, equipment, and more than USD 70,000 in cash were seized
Authorities seized about 43,500 flavorings, 30,200 units of glycerin, 36,000 flavor and strength enhancers, 19,800 cartridges, 3,600 pod systems, 27 sets of equipment, and raw materials including 180 liters of propylene glycol, 660 liters of glycerin, and 205 liters of flavorings.
In addition, more than USD 70,000 in cash, computer equipment, and handwritten records related to the activities of the suspects were seized.
Seized property was valued at about UAH 30 million
The statement said the total value of the seized property was about UAH 30 million (approximately USD 690,000.00, based on 1 UAH = 0.023 USD, user-provided rate), and those assets will be frozen.
The statement also said that the illegal kiosks used to sell the products have already been dismantled. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities said they are identifying the full circle of individuals involved and preparing further procedural decisions.
Image source: Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine
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