The SBI has exposed an all-Ukrainian group of drug traffickers producing psychotropic drugs on an industrial scale (VIDEO)
SBI officers conducted a large-scale special operation and uncovered a criminal group that was producing and distributing psychotropic substances throughout Ukraine. The drugs were sold to wholesale and retail customers. The group's monthly turnover was tens of millions of hryvnia.
The criminals organised drug laboratories in several regions.
In recent months, drug traffickers have become increasingly active, taking advantage of martial law. Among other things, they kept targeting frontline areas to sell products there. Offenders have also tried to infiltrate the military in an attempt to undermine the combat readiness of our units.
According to the investigation, the drug dealers were selling almost 250,000 doses per month, worth about UAH 70 million.
In order to legalise the proceeds of drug trafficking, the organiser and an accomplice bought movable and immovable property throughout Ukraine. It would have been difficult to organise the activities of such a large group without the help of law enforcement officials.
The SBI agents conducted more than 35 searches in the Kiev, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Poltava, Zaporizhzhya, Odesa and Kherson regions.
As a result of the investigations, the organiser, three members of the organised group and one of the largest wholesale buyers were arrested.
Investigators seized more than 20 kg of psychotropic substances, more than 600 litres of precursors already prepared for drug production, relevant equipment, as well as more than USD 60,000 that were acquired as a result of criminal activities and other material evidence proving the guilt of the suspects.
Currently, the members of the organised group have been notified of suspicion of creating a criminal group engaged in the illegal manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, transfer for sale and sale of psychotropic substances and precursors on a particularly large scale in Ukraine (Art. 209, para. 3, Art. 28, para. 2, Art. 306, para. 3, Art. 307, para. 3, Art. 311, para. 3, Art. 28, para. 2, Art. 317 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
These offences are punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years with confiscation of property.
The wholesale buyer and seller of drugs were served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the punishment for this crime is imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property.
The decision on the type of imprisonment is currently being taken.
Priority investigative actions aimed at identifying all persons involved in the criminal activity are under way.
Procedural guidance is provided by the Prosecutor General's Office.
