A large-scale operation involving the production and sale of counterfeit fuel has been uncovered in the Kyiv region
In the Kyiv region, law enforcement officers have uncovered the activities of an organised group whose members had set up an illegal operation to produce and sell petrol and diesel fuel. The operation was carried out by officers from the Strategic Investigations Department in the Kyiv region, in collaboration with investigators from the Fastiv District Police Department.
According to the investigation, the members of the scheme produced the fuel by mixing low-octane raw materials with special additives to increase the octane rating. Dyes were also added to the mixtures to make the finished product resemble fuel from well-known Ukrainian manufacturers.
The products were subsequently sold through a network of petrol stations in the Kyiv region and Kyiv. In addition, the fuel was sold to the public in 5- and 10-litre plastic containers, with both cash and non-cash payments accepted. Some of the product was sold from vehicles converted into mobile mini-petrol stations.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers identified four sites where the counterfeit fuel was produced and stored, as well as ten petrol stations that purchased the illegally manufactured product.
With the participation of representatives from the State Environmental Inspectorate of the Capital District, 41 authorised searches were carried out. During the investigative operations, financial and business documentation, seals, draft records, mobile phones, computer equipment, data storage devices, vehicles and cash in various currencies totalling nearly 900,000 hryvnias were seized.
Law enforcement officers also seized over 86,000 litres of petrol with a total value of more than 7 million hryvnias. Among the items seized were various grades of petrol, diesel fuel, storage tanks for petroleum products and fuel samples, which were sent for expert analysis.
Eight participants in the scheme are under suspicion, including the organiser, a company manager, an accountant, a trusted associate of one of the organisers, and four drivers who were responsible for transporting and selling the counterfeit fuel.
Their actions have been classified under Part 5 of Article 190 and Part 2 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Six of those involved have been detained in accordance with due process.
Further investigative actions are currently underway. The issue of placing the seized property under arrest and ordering a series of forensic examinations is also being resolved. The Fastiv District Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the proceedings.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
