Almost three million hryvnias worth of cigarettes did not reach post offices

In Sumy and Chernihiv regions, law enforcement officers seized 109 thousand packs of counterfeit cigarettes worth almost three million hryvnias. This was reported by the Bureau of Economic Security, UNN reported.

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It is noted that counterfeit cigarettes were transported to post offices.

"During the inspection of a car in Sumy region, law enforcement officers found and seized 94 boxes of cigarettes from a well-known Ukrainian manufacturer without excise stamps. In the city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region, 30 boxes of counterfeit excisable products of the Compliment brand were seized. A total of 109,000 packs of cigarettes were seized. Their estimated value is UAH 2.8 million," the Bureau of Economic Security said in a statement.

The BES added that a pre-trial investigation is underway on the grounds of criminal offenses under Part 3 of Article 199 and Part 3 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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Oleksandr Ruvin, Director of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, in an exclusive interview with UNN, said that reducing counterfeit tobacco products means increasing profits of legal producers and tax revenues to the budget. At the same time, there should be a clear understanding that only indisputable evidence from forensic experts makes it possible to bring counterfeiters to justice.

"It is the expertise that is evidence in court, so this is a joint task for both expert institutions and law enforcement agencies, all government agencies involved. Of course, the processes are very complicated, not all manufacturers are open to cooperation, and there are other difficulties. There are major players in Ukraine - tobacco manufacturers are large companies that are interested in ensuring that both the state and themselves do not suffer losses from counterfeiting. After all, if there are fewer counterfeits, the manufacturer will sell more of its legal products, make more profit and, accordingly, more taxes will go to the state budget," said Ruvin.