An illegal tobacco workshop was found in Kharkiv: it could produce 45,000 packs per day – photos

In Kharkiv, law enforcement officers dismantled an illegal cigarette production workshop. The investigation into the illegal manufacture of tobacco products has been completed, the press service of the Bureau of Economic Security reported.

The investigation established that three residents of Kharkiv organized an underground production facility in a warehouse building on the territory of a private residence.

Special equipment was installed there for the mass production of filtered cigarettes. In addition, the supply of tobacco was established.

The products were manufactured for sale within the territory of Ukraine.

During the searches, the Economic Crime Bureau officers seized nine machines, the production capacity of only one of which was about 5,000 packs of cigarettes per day.

Raw materials for cigarette production were also seized, along with almost 10,000 packs of finished products without the necessary permits.

The actions of the defendants are qualified under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 204, and Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 204 (illegal production of tobacco products for the purpose of sale, as well as their illegal storage for this purpose, committed by an organized group of persons) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The indictment against three individuals has been submitted to the court.

• In early June, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBU) conducted one of the largest operations in 2025. Goods worth 1.2 billion hryvnias were seized from underground vape production workshops in two regions, which were set up by a couple from Kharkiv.