The SBU carried out a large-scale special operation to expose one of the most powerful criminal groups in the city of Kryvyi Rih. The group mainly consisted of locals with criminal records. The notorious group had a strict hierarchy and internal discipline.

The head of the group was a criminal lord known in criminal circles as the criminal enforcer for Kryvyi Rih for more than 10 years.

Allegedly, the offenders were engaged in protection racket, collecting obshchak  [T.N. – a collective fund used primarily for the purposes of mutual aid among like-minded convicts], extorting non-existent debts. If the debtors refused to pay, they were intimidated. The victims were forced to pay money, and were threatened with physical violence and harm to their personal property.

The law enforcement officers detained the head and four participants of the criminal group when receiving another tranche of non-existent debt. One of the local businessmen paid USD 30,000 to the attackers in exchange for his safety.

During the searches of the suspects’ residences, the SBU seized a large sum of money, allegedly obtained by criminal means, firearms, passports of foreign states, including Russian passports.

The SBU served the head and four members of the criminal group a notice of suspicions of expanding criminal influence and extortion.

Information on the involvement of representatives of law enforcement bodies and other authorities in the activities of the criminal group is being investigated.

The operation was carried out jointly with the National Police investigators under the supervision of the Dnipropetrovsk Region Prosecutor's Office.