Illegal cigarettes: BEB seized 2 million packs of contraband goods.

Over 2 million packs of illegal cigarettes without excise tax marks discovered in the Odessa region

Detectives of the Territorial Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) in the Odessa region discovered more than 2 million packs of cigarettes without excise tax marks in three 40-foot shipping containers, with a total value of 165.6 million UAH.

According to BEB, over the year, a group of individuals purchased illegal cigarettes manufactured at domestic factories and distributed them both within Ukraine and abroad.

BEB detectives conducted three sanctioned inspections of shipping containers at one of the ports of Greater Odessa.

'During the investigative and operational measures, 4,140 thousand boxes were seized, in which more than 2 million packs of cigarettes without excise tax marks were hidden. They were planned to be exported to Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The accompanying documentation for the cargo indicated that the tobacco products were marked for sale in Duty Free shops. At the same Time, according to the information placed on the packs, the cigarettes were allegedly manufactured in Egypt, Portugal, and Switzerland,' reported BEB.

A pre-trial investigation is currently underway. The full circle of individuals involved in this illegal activity is being determined.