Seven individuals to face trial over fuel forgery
The investigation has been completed in Kyiv region in a criminal case involving seven individuals accused of the illegal production and sale of petrol. According to information obtained during the investigation, the perpetrators created counterfeit fuel, passing it off as products from well-known Ukrainian manufacturers. The sale of the counterfeit goods was carried out both through fixed petrol stations and via mobile sales points.
Technology of counterfeit production
Investigators established that members of the criminal group produced petrol from cheap raw materials. To imitate the characteristics of popular A-95 fuel, special chemical components and dyes were added to the mixture. These manipulations gave the liquid the required colour, creating the illusion for buyers that they were purchasing a high-quality product from well-known domestic brands.
Sales network and underground bases
To sell the counterfeit petrol, the organisers of the scheme used a network of ten fixed petrol stations. In addition, fuel was sold directly from vehicles that were specially equipped for such trade.
During the investigation, detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) in Kyiv region uncovered four underground oil depots. The facilities were located in the Fastiv and Bila Tserkva districts.
Damage and seizure of goods
As a result of investigative actions, law enforcement agencies seized a total of 100,000 litres of counterfeit fuel. The value of the seized goods is estimated at over 7 million hryvnias.
As previously reported, law enforcement officers had already exposed a large-scale scheme for the production and sale of counterfeit petrol in Kyiv region. During those searches, over 86,000 litres of fuel and lubricants were seized.
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