The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have dismantled  a transnational criminal organization involved in the production, smuggling and sale of drugs in Ukraine and abroad.

As a result of a special operation in seven regions of Ukraine, 17 members of the group were uncovered. Simultaneously, two labs were shut down. These sites produced over 100 kg of drugs per month, including particularly dangerous psychotropic substances - PVP and mephedrone.

According to the investigation, the drug syndicate sold the narcotics in Ukraine and smuggled them in bulk to Europe and the South Caucasus disguising them in toys and food.

Having extensive contacts with foreign drug mafias, the members of the network arranged the supply of LSD, cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and other drugs to Ukraine, which they sold through specially created Telegram channels.

One of them was among the five most notorious online ‘shops’ trading in narcotics in several regions of Ukraine.

The organizer of the drug ring is a native of Odesa region, who involved dozens of individuals in Ukraine and abroad in the criminal business.

During the searches, almost 40 kg of drugs and psychotropics, as well as almost 1,000 liters of precursors, hashish oil and marijuana extract were seized. The black market value of the seized substances reaches UAH 20 mln (USD 480,000).

The law enforcement also found packaging equipment, mobile phones, computers, notebooks and other evidence of the crimes.

SSU investigators notified the individuals involved of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 255.1, 255.2 (creation, management of a criminal community or criminal organization, participation in it);
• 305.3 (smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors or counterfeit medicines);
• 307.3 (illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, sending or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances);
• 317 (organization or maintenance of places for illegal use, production or manufacture of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues).

The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out jointly with the National Police, the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine under the procedural supervision of Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.