In Cherkasy, the SBU officers blocked the activities of a criminal group that engaged in the sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in the city.

Allegedly, the group included seven local residents. The dealers sold retail quantities of illegal substances through closed groups in popular messengers. To avoid exposure, the dealers used hiding places for drugs, and received money on bank cards. Repotedly, the drugs were smuggled from abroad and the monthly "profit" from illegal activities amounted to more than UAH 100,000 (USD 3,600).

The law enforcement officers detained 4 active members of the group under the Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine during preparation to sell another batch of drugs.

During the searches at the suspects’ residences, the law enforcement officers seized amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana, packaged for delivery to customers worth almost UAH 0,5 million (USD 18,100). Bank cards and mobile phones with data containing evidence of illegal activity were also seized.

The SBU officers are investigating the facts of smuggling of narcotics, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors (Part 2 of Art. 305 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and illegal production, making, purchasing, storage, transportation, sending or sale of narcotics, psychotropic substances or their analogues (Part 2 of Art. 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The issues of serving the detainees notices of suspicion and choosing a form of detention are being decided.

The investigation is ongoing to prosecute other group members.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Cherkasy region.