Authorities in Chernivtsi have uncovered a large-scale scheme involving the sale of unlicensed vapes
In Chernivtsi, detectives from the Economic Security Bureau uncovered a group of individuals who had set up an illegal operation selling vapes, e-liquids, and hookah tobacco without licenses or excise stamps, conducting a series of raids at ten locations across the city. Investigators state that this involves a large-scale black market trade in excise-taxed products, which could pose risks to consumers due to their unknown origin and composition.
During the pre-trial investigation, detectives from the Territorial Directorate of the State Bureau of Investigation in Chernivtsi Oblast established that the participants in the scheme had organized a full cycle of illegal trade in goods—from the purchase to the sale of e-cigarettes, POD systems, flavorings, and hookah tobacco, including nicotine-containing products that are not permitted for legal sale without proper oversight.
According to the BEB, the estimated value of the seized goods exceeds 2.3 million UAH, and the products themselves were sold without excise stamps or the necessary permits. Searches were conducted at retail outlets in the Kalynivsky Market, at vape shops in the city center, as well as in storage facilities, at the suspects’ residences, and in their vehicles.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over a thousand units of e-cigarette liquids, hundreds of POD systems and electronic devices, dozens of cartridges, nicotine pods, and over 369 kg of hookah tobacco, which, according to investigators, could have been actively supplied to the local market without any quality control.
According to the BEB, the products were sold through physical retail outlets and anonymous Telegram channels, which allowed the operation to evade oversight and rapidly expand sales among consumers who were effectively purchasing products of unknown origin.
Operational support for the case was provided by officers of the Strategic Investigations Department and the SBU in Chernivtsi Oblast, while procedural oversight is being handled by the Chernivtsi Oblast Prosecutor’s Office.
The agency also notes that, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and confirmed by a court conviction.
The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) showed how they cleared Stepnogorsk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast of Russian forces.
Russian troops continue intense assaults in the Kupiansk direction, but are currently unable to penetrate directly into Kupiansk.
The occupiers complain that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are cutting off the land corridor to Crimea with drones.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated another 1,020 Russian soldiers on the front lines over the past 24 hours.
