Law enforcement agencies in the Lviv region have halted the illegal production of tobacco products. The perpetrators operated at facilities capable of manufacturing 70,000 packs of cigarettes daily. According to investigation materials, a group of nine individuals, including the organiser, produced counterfeits under the names of popular Ukrainian and European brands and distributed them across the entire country.
Production organisation and disguises
The underground workshop was located in an industrial zone on the outskirts of Zhovkva. To avoid detection, the producers used several masking methods. They affixed Ukrainian excise stamps to the packaging, the origin of which could not be established. The products were also presented as goods from well-known commercial brands.
To ensure a continuous process, accommodation for the permanent residence of staff was arranged on the premises. The finished counterfeits were supplied through retail chains, postal operators, and Telegram channels.
Results of investigative actions
During searches, property with a total value of approximately 50 million hryvnias was seized. The confiscated items include three industrial production lines, generators, mobile phones, cash, and rough notes.
Nine members of the criminal group have already been informed of suspicion. The investigation is ongoing: law enforcement officers are clarifying all details of the illegal production and identifying the channels through which the counterfeits reached the market.
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