The SBU liquidated eliminated an organized criminal group. Its members specialized in smuggling and selling cocaine and psychotropic substances in the city of Kyiv, Kyiv and Odesa region.

SBU operatives established that several residents of the city of Kyiv and Odesa region organized illegal business. They smuggled drugs from abroad. During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement documented that the offenders handed over drugs to customers via taxi drivers. Drug dealers accepted payment in cryptocurrency. Part of drugs were smuggled to the Russia.

SBU officers conducted eight searches in Kyiv and Odesa region. During the investigation, the following items were seized:

• over 9,00 pills of psychotropic substance MDMA (ecstasy);
• almost 1 kg of cocaine;
• about 300 grams of other psychotropic substances;
• scales, zip packages and other evidence of illegal activity.

According to preliminary estimates, black market cost of the seized drugs is almost UAH 11 million (USD 392,857).

Currently, three members of the group were detained in accordance with
Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The decision to bring to justice other members of the group will be made after the examinations.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing for illegal production, making, purchasing, storage, transportation, sending or sale of narcotics, psychotropic substances or their analogues.

The operation was conducted by SBU Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime jointly with the investigation unit of the Dniprovskyi District Police Division under supervision of Dniprovskyi District Prosecutor's Office in the city of Kyiv.

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