An illegal operation involving ethyl alcohol was halted in Moscow when a 51-year-old man and his 22-year-old son organized the retail scheme. Reports from the Ministry of Internal Affairs Media describe how the pair posted advertisements and promised easy access to ethyl alcohol, attracting pre-orders from buyers. The sellers did not hold the licenses required to trade alcohol and moved to procure goods for resale without regulatory oversight. The case illustrates how mid‑level networks can operate under the radar by presenting themselves as ordinary merchants while bypassing licensing requirements.
Officials detail that the advertisement was placed for the retail sale of ethyl alcohol, signaling an intent to reach customers beyond legitimate channels. After receiving a pre-order, the suspects allegedly acquired the goods without licensing or regulatory compliance, planning to profit from the illicit resale. The law requires a license for alcohol trade, a permit the pair did not possess, placing them squarely in violation of licensing provisions designed to protect public health and government revenue.
Police acted as buyers in an undercover operational test to document the illicit sale of alcohol. The operation led to the detention of the suspects, and prosecutors opened criminal proceedings under Article 171.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which addresses illegal entrepreneurship and the sale of goods without proper licensing. The court issued preventive measures requiring the father and son to remain at a fixed location and to observe proper conduct as the case proceeds.
In a separate case, authorities in the Leningrad region detained 15 individuals accused of illegal deforestation tied to losses estimated in millions of rubles. Investigators say the scheme involved unauthorized timber harvesting and evasion of environmental oversight. A criminal case was opened to pursue charges related to illegal logging, environmental harm, and the illicit timber trade. The incident highlights the persistent risks to forests and regional ecosystems when regulatory controls fail to deter illicit activity.
Additionally, Russian customs officers reported seizures of smuggled cigarettes valued at around 30 million rubles. The operation underscores ongoing efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and protect public revenue, while highlighting the need for strict labeling, taxation, and licensing controls in tobacco and related goods.