A case involving the production of counterfeit goods worth over 50 million hryvnias in Kryvyi Rih has been referred to court
On August 6, prosecutors in the Dnipropetrovsk region filed an indictment with the court against 13 members of an organized group suspected of setting up an underground operation to produce and distribute counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol. According to the investigation, the value of the seized illegal goods exceeds 50 million hryvnias.
The investigation established that the ringleader was a 36-year-old local resident who coordinated the actions of his accomplices. Four members directly manufactured the cigarettes, while the others were responsible for supplying raw materials, logistics, product storage, maintaining “off-the-books accounting,” and managing the clandestine workshops.
For the illegal production, the defendants used specially equipped premises in Kryvyi Rih, constantly changing their locations to maintain secrecy. Garage units served as warehouses. The finished products were sold through controlled stores in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The excise tax stamps on the goods were counterfeit or missing entirely.
In February 2026, all 13 suspects were notified of the charges against them. During the searches, counterfeit products and property with a total value of over 50 million hryvnias were seized, including approximately 340,000 packs of cigarettes, 25 bags of tobacco, over 600,000 cigarette tubes, four cigarette-making machines, nearly 2,000 containers of e-cigarette liquid, 5,000 liters of alcohol-like liquid, cell phones, computer equipment, five vehicles, rough notes, and cash in various currencies totaling over 6.2 million hryvnias.
An indictment has been filed with the court regarding the use of counterfeit excise tax stamps, the illegal circulation of excise goods committed by an organized group, as well as the laundering of proceeds obtained by criminal means by the organizer of the scheme.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
As a reminder, Oleksiy Shevchuk, head of the National Association of Lobbyists, called for greater transparency regarding influence on legislative initiatives.
The High Qualification Commission of Advocates (VKdKA) suspended the disciplinary sanction against attorney Shevchuk, and the work of the High Council of Justice has resumed.
