Law enforcement officers have stopped an illegal scheme for the unlawful production and sale of tobacco.

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office is conducting procedural oversight in a criminal proceeding regarding the illegal production, transportation, and subsequent illegal sale of tobacco (Part 3 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). 

It has been established that a group of individuals organized an underground business in the territories of Odesa and Ternopil regions. In one of the villages in Ternopil region, they cultivated tobacco plants on a land plot of 11 hectares and dried them, preparing them for sale. 

The products were sold at markets in Odesa, with goods delivered by mail or through an online store across Ukraine.

During authorized searches of land plots, private residences, sales points at Odesa markets, and storage facilities, over 9 tons of illegally produced tobacco were seized, along with equipment for its production and smoking.

The total value of the seized goods and equipment is over 13 million UAH.

Currently, all individuals involved in the underground activity are being identified. The issue of notifying them of suspicion is being resolved. 

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceeding is being conducted by detectives of the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security in Odesa region. Operational support is provided by the Criminal Investigation Department in Odesa region of the National Police of Ukraine and the 26th Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.