Photo: National Police of Ukraine
A new round in the fight against drug crime in Ukraine
The National Police of Ukraine detained 24 members of two criminal groups operating in Kryvyi Rih and engaged in the mass distribution of methamphetamine. As a result of a carefully planned special operation, law enforcement officers neutralised organisations that sold up to 30,000 doses of the drug every month, earning about UAH 9 million in “profit”. This was reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to the press service of the National Police of Ukraine.
The 20 methods and new leaders of the drug market
According to the Dnipro regional police, the organisers of the two groups, a 36-year-old and a 41-year-old leader, tried to take control of the gangs after the police dismantled the well-known 20-ka drug syndicate. They adopted the methods of the 20s, including packaging methamphetamine in cocktail tubes. The distribution scheme was well thought out: orders were received via chatbots in messengers, and the drug was delivered by bookmarks or directly from hand to hand.
Hierarchy and scheme of criminal organisations
The criminal groups had a clearly defined hierarchy. Leaders controlled all stages of the process, packers prepared the goods for sale, and “seniors” were responsible for delivering drugs directly to sellers. The drug production was distributed among six locations in Kryvyi Rih, including private homes and rented apartments, which were regularly changed for security.
Operation involving security forces from several regions
The operation, which was conducted in two phases, brought together law enforcement officers from several regions – Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad and Khmelnytskyi. Operatives and investigators from various departments were involved, including members of the KORD special forces and prosecutors. As a result of large-scale searches, law enforcement officers seized drugs and psychotropics worth almost UAH 2 million, equipment for the manufacture of drugs, cash worth over UAH 850,000, as well as weapons, grenades and cars. The total value of the seized property is about UAH 10 million.
Punishment and risks for drug traffickers
The detained members of the groups were served a notice of suspicion under Art. 255(1) and (2) and Art. 28(4), Art. 307(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. All the suspects are in custody and their actions may result in imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property. The seizure of property seized during the operation is currently under consideration.
National Police continues to actively fight drug-related crime
The operation in Kryvyi Rih is another step by the National Police towards eradicating drug trafficking in Ukraine. Dismantling large drug syndicates that cause significant harm to society remains one of the main tasks of law enforcement in their efforts to protect citizens from criminal activities related to drug trafficking.
