Mykolaiv police seize 2.8 tons of alcohol and counterfeit goods in major raid

In Mykolaiv, law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale underground alcohol production facility, seizing tons of alcohol, counterfeit products, tobacco, equipment and cash. An investigation is underway to identify all those involved and bring them to justice.

According to the press service of the National Police of Mykolaiv region, law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale underground alcohol production with millions in profits.

During the raid, police seized 2.8 tons of alcohol, 350 containers for bottling and transporting alcohol, 100 tetrapacks, 65 packs of blanks for homemade cigarettes, and about 20 kilograms of tobacco mixture.

Also, 136 bottles of counterfeit alcohol of 0.5, 0.7 and 1 liter with counterfeit excise stamps, cardboard packages with labels of well-known brands, computer equipment, mobile phones, special equipment, draft records, invoices, checks, cars and UAH 35 thousand in cash were confiscated.

Law enforcement officers conducted 20 authorized searches at the places of production and storage of counterfeit goods and at the residences of the suspects.

All seized property was seized and sent for examination. The pre-trial investigation into the illegal manufacture and sale of excisable goods (Part 1 Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is ongoing. The police are identifying all those involved in the illegal scheme and are deciding whether to serve them with a notice of suspicion.

Recently, a criminal group engaged in illegal logging was exposed in Mykolaiv region. Three men aged 24 to 46 cut down oaks, ash, maples and acacias and then sold the wood through online ads, making illegal profits. During authorized searches of their homes, chainsaws, axes, cell phones, cash in various currencies, vehicles, and large quantities of wood were seized.

The National Police also conducted a large-scale special operation in two stages aimed at eliminating a criminal group that laundered millions of dollars in income through bank accounts registered in the names of front companies. The network of 18 drug laboratories operated in six regions of the country, producing over 60 kg of amphetamine per month and generating illegal profits of up to UAH 18 million.

Анна Бальчінос