Scheme for illegal vape circulation worth tens of millions of hryvnias liquidated in Ukraine

The Office of the Prosecutor General, together with the Bureau of Economic Security, exposed a large-scale scheme of illegal production and sale of liquids for electronic cigarettes, which has been operating in Ukraine since 2023. This was announced by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, UNN reports.

Details

The criminal group organized a full cycle of illegal circulation of nicotine-containing mixtures. They also sold liquids with flavorings, i.e., flavors other than tobacco, which are prohibited in Ukraine.

"The dealers sold the illegal products through an extensive distribution system, including physical points and online stores of the exposed network.

The illegal business was supported by more than 200 involved individuals," Prosecutor General Kravchenko said.

According to the report, within the framework of the special operation, more than 70 simultaneous searches were conducted in Kyiv, as well as in Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions. Investigative actions took place at the residences of the organizers, at production sites, and at points of sale of finished products.

According to the Prosecutor General, the following were seized:

• about 43.5 thousand flavorings;
• 30.2 thousand units of glycerin;
• 36 thousand flavor and strength enhancers;
• 19.8 thousand cartridges;
• 3.6 thousand pod systems;
• 27 sets of equipment;
• raw materials: 180 liters of propylene glycol, 660 liters of glycerin, and 205 liters of flavorings.

In addition, more than 70 thousand US dollars, computer equipment, and draft records regarding the activities of the defendants were seized.

"The total value of the seized property is about UAH 30 million. These assets will be arrested.

Illegal kiosks through which the products were sold have already been dismantled. The investigation is ongoing. We are establishing the full circle of involved persons and preparing further procedural decisions," Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said.

17-million scheme for selling drugs in vapes exposed in Ukraine08.04.26, 13:21 • 2370 views