BES conducts 24 simultaneous searches at production facilities of four cigarette manufacturers suspected of illegal activities
The main unit of detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) and territorial units of the BES are conducting 24 simultaneous searches at the production facilities and warehouses of four cigarette manufacturers suspected of illegal tobacco production, the BES press service reported.
According to the statement, these manufacturers are suspected of producing cigarettes in Form 2 and subsequently selling them in Ukraine and EU countries.
"During the searches, detectives have already discovered production lines and over 1 million packs of cigarettes Marshal, URTA, BRUT, BL, Marvel, Compliment, etc., without excise stamps. Approximately 18 tonnes of tobacco have also been found," the press service said.
Additionally, BES detectives have preliminarily established that the majority of shipments of illegally produced tobacco products were carried out by a well-known delivery service. A large quantity of unstamped cigarettes was found in one of its branches.
Searches at the production facilities are ongoing. Forensic experts and the State Tax Service are involved in the relevant inspections and investigations.
Earlier, Danylo Hetmantsev, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Financial, Tax, and Customs Policy, informed on Wednesday about the searches being conducted at the enterprises of five largest domestic tobacco manufacturers. He urged representatives of the judicial authorities to make objective decisions regarding the illegal production of excisable goods.