A large-scale scheme for the production and sale of illegal e-cigarettes and e-liquids has been exposed in Ukraine. The National Police's SID, together with partners, conducted 272 searches, seized property worth UAH 170 million and served 8 suspicion notices.
Scope of the operation and results
According to the information JIT of the National Police, law enforcement officers conducted nearly 300 searches in different regions of Ukraine. The operation was aimed at countering the shadow market of e-cigarettes and e-liquids. The operation resulted in the seizure of property worth over UAH 170 million and the serving of 8 notices of suspicion to members of the organised group.
How the scheme worked
Law enforcement officers established that the organisers set up industrial production of counterfeit goods in Kyiv and the region. Under the guise of «strength enhancers», the manufacturers actually created and sold nicotine-containing e-liquids for vaping with different flavours. The products were sold through an extensive network of retail outlets, which allowed the company to avoid paying excise duties and bypass government control.
During the searches, almost 970,000 units of flavourings, glycerin and nicotine, more than 1,100 disposable e-cigarettes, more than 6,000 sets of vape liquids, 1,910 units of hookah tobacco without excise stamps, as well as 1,590 litres of various liquids, printing products, almost UAH 2 million in cash and three automated systems for the mass production of liquids were seized.
Financial losses for the state
It has been preliminarily established that the state budget lost more than UAH 100 million in excise tax due to the operation of this scheme. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officers continue to identify all those involved in the shadow e-cigarette market.
Why it matters
Shadow industry vapes not only causes significant losses to the state budget, but also poses serious risks to consumer health due to the lack of product quality control. The large-scale special operation by the National Police demonstrates the state's intention to strengthen the fight against illegal markets and ensure transparency in the circulation of e-cigarettes.
