In Odessa region, a scheme in which smugglers of tobacco products combined counterfeit exports of agricultural products with money laundering through offshore companies. The bulk of the operations took place through the United Arab Emirates, from where cheap smuggled cigarettes came back to Ukraine.
In 2022–2023, a group of exporting companies with risk companies operated in the region: Krauka LLC, LLC “14”, APPPER Corn LLC and Lans Logistics LLC. They declared exports of agricultural products of dubious origin, using counterfeit documents for customs clearance. The purpose was to avoid taxes, to failure to return foreign exchange earnings and to laundering large amounts of money.
In parallel, the investigation revealed the points of sale of tobacco products without excise stamps and permits in Odessa. The control of this business was exercised by Igor Dedse, Director of LLC "Linacor Trade Ukraine", and another citizen.
LLC "Linacor Trade Ukraine", which also has an office in the UAE, used an overestimation of the negative value of VAT to illegally obtain compensation from the state budget. Thus, in November 2022 alone, the company received UAH 1.6 million. In total, for 2020–2023, the company filed 43 applications for VAT reimbursement for UAH 61.5 million, of which UAH 45.2 million was returned.
Financial transactions "Background Trade Ukraine" have also found numerous discrepancies: lack of invoices for part of funds, non -policy of income and overestimation of tax credit. The company actually reduced tax liabilities by UAH 14.4 million.
The investigation also showed that in 2021 LLC "Background Trade Ukraine" cooperated with LLC "Melissa-Agro", which was part of the network of false firms. This may indicate the participation of Igor Dedse in a larger criminal scheme.
Earlier, the court had already held accountable Anna Kasyan, the owner and director of Lans Logistics LLC, who received a fine and confiscation of goods for cigarette smuggling.
As for LLC "Krauka", its owner is Andriy Skydonenko - a person for which more than 77 companies have been issued. Through the company, in just a few months, "Sunflower Seeds" was exported in the amount of more than 224 million UAH according to schemes with privileges.
