Law enforcement officers exposed a food production network that was sold under the guise of well-known brands

Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office, a widespread network was exposed that was engaged in the production and sale of counterfeit food products. They were sold under the guise of products of well-known Ukrainian and international brands, misleading consumers.

The investigation established that over the past few years, a scheme for the production of goods from low-quality raw materials was operating in the territories of Kyiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. The products were packed in packaging that was almost indistinguishable from the original packaging of well-known brands. After that, the counterfeit goods ended up on store shelves and were also sold via online platforms as genuine products of well-known brands.

During searches in one of the warehouses, law enforcement officers seized more than 15,000 packages of seasonings and other food products with counterfeit labeling. In addition, packaging equipment was found, as well as financial and production documentation, which confirms the systematic nature of the criminal group’s activities and the well-established sales channels.

Five members of the criminal organization have already been notified of suspicion of illegal use of a trademark for goods and services (Part 3 of Article 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Currently, a pre-trial investigation is underway. It is being conducted by the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine with operational support from employees of the Department of Strategic Investigations.