A network of illegal cigarette sales was exposed in the Kyiv region: goods worth over a million hryvnias were seized

Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security have uncovered a network of retail outlets in the Kyiv region through which, according to the investigation, tobacco products were illegally sold. During the searches, law enforcement officers seized more than 7,000 packs of cigarettes without excise stamps with an estimated value of over 1 million hryvnias.

This was reported by the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security in the Kyiv region.

Illegal retail outlets operated in the Obukhiv and Brovar districts. Law enforcement officers have shut down five retail pavilions.

Cigarettes were sold for cash without checks

According to the investigation, tobacco products were sold to a limited number of buyers. Payment was made in cash, and cashier’s checks were not issued to buyers.

The funds received from the sale were not declared, and the corresponding taxes were not paid to the budget.

During the searches, BEB detectives seized:

over 7 thousand packs of cigarettes without excise tax stamps;
rough accounting records;
flash drives with CCTV recordings.

The estimated value of the seized tobacco products exceeds 1 million hryvnias.

What liability may be threatened

A pre-trial investigation is underway into the fact of illegal trade under Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal acquisition, storage, transportation or sale of illegally manufactured excisable goods.

Currently, law enforcement officers are identifying all persons who may be involved in the organization and operation of the network, and are also investigating the channels of supply of tobacco products.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The final legal assessment of the actions of the persons involved should be given based on the results of the investigation.