Counterfeit vapes worth over 12 million hryvnias were seized in Kyiv

Operatives from the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police in Kyiv, in collaboration with detectives from the Economic Security Bureau (ESB), uncovered and dismantled a large-scale scheme involving the illegal distribution of counterfeit nicotine-containing products. The counterfeit goods were sold through an extensive network of specialty stores and retail kiosks throughout the capital.

This was reported by the National Police.

The perpetrators organized the mass sale of disposable e-cigarettes, vape liquids, POD systems, refillable cartridges, nicotine pouches, and hookah tobacco. To conceal their illegal activities and launder proceeds, the dealers created and used a number of shell companies under their control. These front companies were used to directly supply large shipments of products and handle all financial transactions.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers discovered that the seized goods bore counterfeit excise tax stamps. These stamps merely imitated the original security features visually and were completely absent from official state registries. In addition, a significant portion of the electronic devices was sold without any excise stamps at all. To shut down the illegal business, law enforcement conducted 27 authorized searches at locations where excise goods were stored, manufactured, and sold.

A large-scale special operation was conducted in Ukraine against the illegal market for vapes and e-cigarette liquids, during which nearly 300 searches took place in various regions of the country. Law enforcement officers seized products and equipment worth hundreds of millions of hryvnias and notified the suspects of the charges against them.

In the Kyiv region, law enforcement uncovered a group of individuals who had organized a large-scale distribution network for illegally manufactured tobacco products.