Boris Kaufman - trading in illegal cigarettes?

The appearance of cigarette brands from manufacturers linked to counterfeiting in the price lists of the monopolist DL Solution, controlled by Boris Kaufman, is raising more and more questions. At present, the company officially cooperates with the Ternopil Tobacco Factory, but, according to rumours, negotiations with another factory are at the final stage.

And, of course, the involvement of the Hoshcha Factory, which is already known for its problems with the BEB, will not be avoided.

What lies behind the cooperation

At first glance, it is a matter of working with officially registered brands. However, as practice shows, such a scheme may be just the beginning. The inclusion of illegal products in the chain – excise-free counterfeits or Duty Free – is a matter of time and the readiness of the participants.

For Boris Kaufman, the tobacco business is not only about profit, but also a tool for creating a powerful cash flow. The illegal market offers opportunities linked to huge volumes of cash collected through tobacco product sales schemes. These funds are actively used in conversion centres, and here a long-time partner of Kaufman, Igor Stakovychenko, known as “Stakan”, enters the scene.

The role of “VolynTabak” and new structures

According to insider information, the acquisition of “VolynTabak” pursued specific goals. The company was to become a platform for the sale of illegal products and operations under the F2 system – cash sales without documentary processing. Meanwhile, DL Solution will continue to remain on the official side of the market, maintaining its reputation as a white distributor.

However, it is not only “VolynTabak” that is involved in this scheme. The market is actively operated by LLC “Active Sales Group”, linked to Stakovychenko. This structure, according to sources, is engaged in the sale of counterfeits through opaque schemes.

The tandem’s strategy

The scheme of Kaufman and Stakovychenko looks extremely pragmatic:

1. Production. Factories produce cigarettes, often without excise duties.
2. Logistics and sales. DL Solution and “VolynTabak” ensure transportation and delivery to final resellers.
3. Cash collection. Cash funds are collected from sales points and sent to conversion centres.
4. Cash-out. Stakovychenko processes the cash, receiving income from operations with a markup of up to 2%.

This activity is hidden behind the facade of DL Solution’s official business, which minimises risks and complicates the work of law enforcement agencies.

Questions for global manufacturers

The presence in DL Solution’s price lists of products from major international manufacturers, who are fighting the illegal market, raises contradictions. How do these companies react to the proximity of their brands to suspicious marks?

Global corporations declare their support for anti-counterfeiting policies, but the appearance of their products in the same market as illegal brands casts a shadow on their reputation.

The fight for control

The actions of the Kaufman and Stakovychenko tandem reflect a general trend towards the consolidation of shadow schemes in the context of increasing pressure from law enforcement agencies. Their goal is to monopolise the illegal market, providing a “safety umbrella” for participants in the chain.

But the success of this strategy will depend on the reaction of law enforcement and global tobacco players. Will they be able to dismantle the established system? Or will the illegal market continue to bring billion-dollar profits under the cover of legal distribution?