SBU officers blocked activities of an organized group specialized in manufacturing and selling of wholesale consignments of methadone in Donetsk region. The income of drug traffickers comprised over UAH 4 million per month.  

Special service operatives found that the group consisted of previously convicted for similar crimes residents of Zaporizzhya region. The offenders organized drug labs in rented premises in the regional center. For conspiracy dealers constantly changing location of illegal “productions". The attackers produced up to two kilograms of methadone per week. They sold drugs in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The drug traffickers used minors as couriers.

Law enforcement officers detained an organizer and three group members in accordance with Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine in Mariupol on trying to sell regular consignment of drugs.

Within the framework of criminal proceeding initiated under Part 3 Art. 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine the detainees were served suspicion notices. The issue of choosing the measure of restraint is now being decided.

During searches at the residences of dealers in Zaporizzhya and Mariupol 300 grams of methadone, draft records, bank cards, mobile phones with evidence of illegal activity were seized.

The investigative actions on bringing to responsibility other persons involved in the drug trafficking are under way.

The detection operation was conducted jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Donetsk region.