Underground “tobacco farms”: what is known about a large-scale special operation in three regions of Ukraine
9 December 2025 19:20
Law enforcement officials have reported the elimination of one of the largest underground tobacco production networks in recent years, which operated in three regions of Ukraine – Khmelnytsky, Kyiv, and Odesa. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the investigation, the group organized a full production cycle, which allowed it to manufacture products in industrial volumes every month and sell them throughout the country.
How the scheme worked
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the organizers created a closed cycle of illegal production – from growing plants to processing and selling finished tobacco. To cover up the activities, they used the details of one of the controlled enterprises, which allowed them to mask transactions and avoid tax control.
During the searches in three regions, investigators seized
- about 45 tons of leaves and finished products
- over 75 tons of harvested plants,
- specialized equipment,
- uAH 252 thousand in cash.
The law enforcement officers also found 70 hectares of land with unharvested tobacco crops, an area that actually allowed the company to provide its own raw materials.
Value of the seized goods and further actions
According to law enforcement estimates, the estimated market value of the seized goods exceeds UAH 25 million. The investigation is currently ordering the necessary examinations and initiating the seizure of the property.
This is not the first detection of large-scale clandestine tobacco production facilities this year. Earlier, law enforcement officers uncovered a similar scheme in Volyn region, where a farm was also engaged in illegal cultivation and processing of large volumes of tobacco.
