The SSU and the National Police have neutralized an international crime ring that manufactured and sold wholesale consignments of heavy drugs and psychotropics.

As a result of a special operation in Odesa and other regions, 10 members of the drug syndicate, including two of its organizers, were simultaneously apprehended.

Every month, the drug syndicate produced 60 to 100 kg of narcotics worth over UAH 20 mln (USD 481,000) at black market prices.

The investigators also documented the smuggling of 120 kg of psychotropic substances.

The seized items include large batches of amphetamine, mephedrone and a dangerous psychotropic substance PVP.

In the course of the operation, the SSU identified the location of the drug lab, which the traffickers set up in a ‘dacha’ community in Odesa.

They smuggled all the components for the drugs from their accomplices in East Asia, purchasing them through specialized Internet forums.

The dealers sold the finished ‘product’ in large Ukrainian cities using so-called ‘drops’.

For wholesale ‘trade’, the group created several Telegram channels to advertise the ‘goods’. They were also looking for potential buyers on the darknet.

Postal services were used to send the drugs; the ‘orders’ were hidden in parcels with food.

One of the organizers of the criminal group is a repeat offender who had previously been prosecuted for drug trafficking.

During 44 searches, the SSU found:

• 280 litres of precursors for drugs and psychotropics;
• almost 17 kg of prohibited substances;
• drug lab equipment.

Currently, all the detained individuals have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 255.1, 255.2 (creation, management of a criminal community or criminal organization, participation in it);
• 311.2 (illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation or sending of precursors);
• 305.3 (smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors or counterfeit medicines);
• 28.4, 307.2, 307.3 (illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, sending or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues committed by a criminal organization).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.