Illegal vapes were being sold at four stores in Odesa and Lymanka

In Odesa and Lymanka, a businessman organized the sale of illegally manufactured e-cigarettes and e-liquids through four stores. He will now face trial, and during the investigation, he donated 100,000 hryvnias to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to the Economic Security Bureau (ESB), detectives determined that the man was acting in collusion with another individual. They established a supply and sales network for excise-taxable goods without the required licenses.

The illegal goods were sold through four retail outlets in Odesa and the village of Lymanka in the Odesa district. The businessman enlisted the help of store employees, who sold e-cigarettes to customers for cash.

During the pre-trial investigation, detectives documented evidence of the sale of these products.

During an authorized search of one of the stores, authorities seized 369 containers of e-cigarette liquid and 80 e-cigarettes. These items did not comply with legal requirements regarding the circulation of excise goods.

The business owner was notified that he is suspected of illegally acquiring, with the intent to sell, storing, transporting, and selling illegally manufactured excise goods as part of a premeditated conspiracy by a group of individuals. His actions were classified under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The indictment has already been submitted to the court.

The BEB also noted that during the pre-trial investigation, the entrepreneur donated 100,000 hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ірина Глухова