Underground tobacco factories producing up to 130,000 packs of cigarettes daily were exposed in Kharkiv and Lviv regions
Kyiv • UNN
Law enforcement officers exposed two underground tobacco factories in Kharkiv and Lviv regions. More than 115,000 packs of cigarettes, 3.5 tons of tobacco, and equipment worth UAH 60 million were seized.
Law enforcement officers shut down the operations of two illegal tobacco factories in Kharkiv and Lviv regions. The facilities had a capacity of up to 130,000 packs of cigarettes per day, and during searches, over 115,000 packs of tobacco products, 3.5 tons of tobacco, and equipment worth UAH 60 million were seized. This was reported by the National Police and the BEB, writes UNN.
They produced tobacco products and sold them to the consumer market under the guise of various brands. The facilities even had living quarters arranged for the permanent residence of workers. The illegal producers had 115,000 packs of cigarettes, 3.5 tons of tobacco, other products, and equipment worth UAH 60 million seized.
Both production sites were located in industrial zones; the warehouse premises were equipped with industrial production lines, and the workshops were supplied with raw materials, printing materials, filters, and other property.
The factories operated in a closed mode. To mask the significant electricity consumption by the facilities and ensure uninterrupted operation of the industrial lines at the specified capacity, the organizers installed diesel substations.
In the Lviv region, they produced cigarettes without filters, with production capacities allowing up to 70,000 packs of cigarettes per day. In the Kharkiv region, on the contrary, exclusively with filters, and up to 60,000 packs could be produced.
They sold the finished tobacco products under the brands of Ukrainian and European manufacturers throughout Ukraine through a retail network, Telegram channels, and sent the products via postal operators. Excise stamps of Ukraine of unknown origin were affixed to the cigarette packs.
The BEB noted that during searches at both production sites, industrial production lines, finished tobacco products, tons of tobacco raw materials, filter rods, cigarette paper, packaging materials, printing products of well-known international brands, and other equipment were seized.
The shadow business should not have "safe" regions. And it will not have "quiet" places where one can work with impunity
A pre-trial investigation is ongoing under Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.