In Kharkiv, law enforcement officers exposed and liquidated two large-scale illegal tobacco business schemes simultaneously. This was reported by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko, according to UNN.
Details
An underground cigarette production facility and a distribution network for illegal vapes have been liquidated. More than 50 searches were conducted. The total value of the seized items exceeds 37 million UAH.
"In the first case, two local residents essentially created an underground tobacco factory. They found cigarette production instructions on the internet, purchased equipment, and set up production under the labels of well-known brands," the Prosecutor General reported.
According to him, the workshops operated in two shifts. Without any quality control, standards, or basic sanitary norms. The tobacco and components were of unknown origin. The finished products were sold throughout Ukraine via postal services.
During the searches, more than 120,000 packs of cigarettes, three production lines, about 1.2 million cigarette tubes, almost 400 kg of tobacco, printing materials, computer equipment, and 26,000 US dollars were seized.
"The value of the items seized in this case is about 22 million UAH. According to the investigation, the monthly profit of the organizers reached 12 million UAH," Kravchenko wrote.
The second case involves a network for selling illegal electronic cigarettes and liquids for them. A Kharkiv resident organized sales through retail outlets, social networks, and messengers.
About 35,000 units of products worth almost 15 million UAH were seized.
"Both schemes have been liquidated. Three individuals have been notified of suspicion. Forensic examinations have been ordered. We are identifying all those involved, as well as the supply channels for raw materials and distribution of illegal products.
The shadow tobacco business is not just about millions in losses to the budget. It is a product of unknown origin that reaches people uncontrollably and poses a direct threat to their health," the Prosecutor General emphasized.