The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have shut down another transnational channel of selling hard drugs and psychotropic substances to countries of the European Union.

As a result of a special operation in Ternopil, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy regions, a criminal organization of drug traffickers has been neutralized.

6 members of the group have been detained for production and sale of industrial volumes of amphetamine, α-PVP, mephedrone and LSD.

The drug ring produced up to 40 kg of illicit substances worth over UAH 20 mln (USD 523,000) per month.

2 labs were set up to make the drugs. The workshops were located in basements and garages of the suspects’ households.

The finished ‘products’ were sold in Ukraine’s different regions through a system of ‘dead-drops’, set up by dealers.

The gang tried to sell synthetic drugs and psychotropics to customers in countries of the European Union.

Postal services were used to send the banned substances, hidden in boxes with household appliances, abroad.

To find customers, the criminals created several specialized Telegram channels, offering their ‘range of products’.

During 34 searches in drug labs, as well as in the suspects’ homes and cars, the investigators found:

• almost 8 kg of α-PVP, amphetamine;
• over 500 liters of precursors for psychotropic drugs;
• more than 600 packages prepared for dead-drops;
• equipment for drug production and packaging;
• records and phones with data on international drug trafficking;
• almost UAH 500,000 - likely the proceeds of crime.

The detainees 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);
• 305.3 (smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors or counterfeit medicines);
• 307.3 (illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, shipment or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues);
• 311.3 (illegal production, manufacture, purchase, storage, transportation or sending of precursors).

The court is to decide on measures of restraint. The investigation is underway to bring to justice all those involved in the drug trafficking.

The operation was conducted by the SSU Office in Ternopil region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Ternopil Region Prosecutor’s Office.