The SBU neutralized the activities of organized drug groups in Zhytomyr and Rivne regions. The perpetrators set up a drug trafficking channel to prisons, and used the “profit” to support criminal circles.

During 10 searches of prisons and the offenders’ residences, the law enforcement officers seized:

• accounting materials with income and expenses and card accounts of various banking institutions,
• a large number of drugs and psychotropic substances;
• means of communication.

According to the investigation, the group consisted of 8 participants. Some of the members are currently being sentenced for committing felonies. Via their accomplices, the offenders smuggled drugs to prisoners. The dealers hid the drugs in parcels or threw them over the fence.

It was established that the leader of the group tried to spread his influence on the prisons of Zhytomyr region. The offender has a status of a so-called “watcher” of one of the correctional institutions of the same region.

The law enforcement officers detained two locals during the next shipment of marijuana and methadone.

The investigation is ongoing upon the facts of establishment and dissemination of criminal influence and illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, shipment or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues.

The information on the involvement of criminals in other felonies is checked.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the Main Department of the National Police and an operational department of a prison under the supervision of Zhytomyr Region Prosecutor’s Office.