The SSU and the National Police have prevented illegal trafficking in trophy weapons and ammunition in five regions of Ukraine.

As a result of joint operations in Kyiv region, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Rivne and Chernivtsi regions, two groups of illicit arms dealers have been dismantled.

The perpetrators tried to illegally sell military munitions found in the de-occupied regions of Ukraine to criminals.

The seized items include an arsenal of russian Kalashnikov rifles, combat grenades and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.

Nine gang members were detained in Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne and Bukovyna. Posing as volunteers, they smuggled trophy weapons from the sites of previous military actions.

The traffickers then repaired the damaged weapons in clandestine workshops, set up in one of Kyiv garage cooperatives.

After that, they looked for potential buyers through personal connections in criminal circles.

The group sent ‘orders’ by mail and received money to bank cards issued to bogus persons.

In this way, they tried to sell a batch of assault rifles and pistols with ammunition. However, the SSU uncovered the scheme timely and blocked it.

An organizer and two members of another group that tried to sell combat grenades were detained ‘red-handed’ in Lviv and Rivne regions.

During a search of their homes, the investigators also found:

• a batch of assault rifles and pistols with components;
• tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition of various calibres;
• almost UAH 10 mln, probably obtained by criminal means.

According to the investigation, they were looking for clients through ads on the Darknet.

All apprehended individuals have been notified of suspicion under Article 263 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives). The suspects face 3 to 7 years in prison.

After the investigation, all the seized weapons and ammunition will be handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The operations were carried out under the procedural supervision of Kyiv Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office of the Central Region and Lviv Region Prosecutor’s Office.