A man was transporting over 26,000 packs of tobacco without excise stamps in Mykolaiv region

In Kazanka, Mykolaiv Oblast, on October 6, police found a consignment of tobacco products and alcohol without excise stamps in a Renault Master. The driver was a 31-year-old resident of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The goods and the vehicle were seized, and criminal proceedings were opened over their illegal transportation.

According to police, the vehicle was checked during a preventive operation conducted by officers of the regional police headquarters’ Preventive Activities Department. After discovering the illegal transportation of excisable goods, they called in an investigative team from Police Station No. 1 of the Bashtanka District Police Department.

During an urgent inspection of the vehicle, investigators found and seized:

• 26,670 packs of tobacco products without excise tax stamps;
• 1,400 plastic bottles of alcoholic beverages, each with a capacity of 0.5 liters—a total of 700 liters. The alcohol had no excise stamps or accompanying documents.

Law enforcement officers seized the counterfeit goods along with the vehicle and asked the court to impose an arrest on them.

Criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This provision establishes liability for the illegal manufacture, storage, sale, or transportation of excisable goods for the purpose of sale.

Law enforcement officers are currently investigating how the counterfeit goods came into the suspect’s possession. Investigators will decide whether to notify him of suspicion once they receive the expert findings. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Source: Mykolaiv Oblast Police.

We previously reported:

• More than 700 bottles of illegal alcohol in Mykolaiv Oblast: company faces a fine of over half a million
• Counterfeit goods worth half a million: a ton of fake alcohol and tens of thousands of cigarettes found in Mykolaiv Oblast
• Fake cigarettes sold in Mykolaiv: seven members of the scheme face up to 12 years in prison
• Nearly three tons of alcohol and “premium” counterfeit liquor: large-scale scheme uncovered in Mykolaiv