In the Lviv region, a scheme for the illegal sale of counterfeit vape products has been exposed, with an estimated total value of UAH 55 million. This was reported by the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office together with the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security in the Lviv region and the Security Service of Ukraine Office in the Lviv region.
According to the investigation, electronic cigarettes and liquids for them were sold through a network of more than 10 specialised shops in Lviv, Vynnyky, Sokilnyky and Novoyavorivsk. To cover up the activity, a company was used which rented retail premises and transferred them for use to controlled sole traders. Through these sole traders, the counterfeit products were sold under the guise of legitimate business activity.
As part of the criminal proceedings, law enforcement officers carried out 25 searches at the network's retail outlets and warehouse premises. They seized more than 160,000 containers with liquids for electronic cigarettes, 150,000 cartridges, 3,500 electronic cigarettes, over UAH 3.6 million in cash, as well as documentation, rough notes, laptops, mobile phones and payment terminals.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 199 and Part 2 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Once expert reports have been obtained, the investigation plans to decide on serving notices of suspicion to the organisers of the scheme.