Police expose network of counterfeit products in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions

Law enforcement officers exposed a network of manufacturing and selling counterfeit products. The participants were notified of suspicion of illegal use of trademarks and distribution of low-quality products under the guise of original ones.

This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office.

Five members of an organized group were served with a notice of suspicion of manufacturing and selling counterfeit food products that were passed off as goods of well-known Ukrainian and international brands. They are accused of illegal use of trademarks under Part 3 of Article 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, over the past few years, an organized scheme for the production of products from low-quality raw materials has been operating in Kyiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. The counterfeit products were packaged in packages that were as similar as possible to the original Nestle, M&M and Jacobs products, and then sold both in regular stores and through online platforms, misleading customers.

During the searches at one of the warehouses, law enforcement officers seized more than 15,000 packages of counterfeit seasonings and other food products with fake labeling. In addition, they seized equipment for packaging products and documentation confirming the systematic nature of the activity and the existence of established sales channels.

According to law enforcement officers, the group's organizers carefully controlled the production and distribution of products, which indicates a professionally organized activity with signs of fraud and intentional misleading of consumers.

The police emphasize that the case is under the control of the Prosecutor General's Office, and the actions of the defendants are regarded as a serious violation of consumer protection and intellectual property laws.

In August, detectives of the Economic Security Bureau in Odesa Oblast conducted another search in the ports of Greater Odesa, this time in the Odesa Sea Port. They found a container of Marvel cigarettes without excise stamps, ready to be shipped abroad.

Анна Бальчінос