Special operation of the National Police: 16 drug gang members were detained and drugs worth UAH 110 million were seized
A drug laboratory for the production of methadone and one of the most dangerous drugs - carfentanil - was set up by the defendants in the Lviv region. They have established channels for the sale of dangerous substances both on the territory of Ukraine and abroad: in the countries of the European Union, Belarus, Moldova and Russia. The monthly income of the attackers amounted to about 5 million UAH.
It took the operatives almost half a year to identify all the members of the criminal group. Operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine and the Directorate of Strategic Investigations in Lviv Oblast worked on the detection of the criminal scheme, together with the operatives of the Department for Combating Drug Crimes of the National Police of Ukraine and the Main Investigative Department of the National Police. During this time, law enforcement officers established the entire chain: from drug dealers to the organizer, the location of the drug laboratory, the channels for the supply of components and the sale of psychotropics.
It was established that the organizer is a 36-year-old resident of Lviv region, who attracted two comrades as “business partners”. In total, more than 30 people, mostly local residents, were involved in the manufacture and sale of drugs. Each was responsible for their direction of work: the supply of components for laboratory activities, the production and marketing of psychotropics, the functioning of the online store, the acceptance of orders, packaging, etc.
The laboratory for the production and synthesis of carfentanil and methadone was located on the territory of one of the private estates in Lviv region. In order to expand the “product range”, the leaders of the group established the supply of precursors and other drugs from abroad.
To hide the criminal activity, the carriers — local residents and foreigners, packed the “goods” into various household items and placed it in the “hiding places” of cars, which were constantly changing. After the successful “operation”, the vehicles were sold. Most of the funds received from the sale of drugs were spent
on the purchase of components, the expansion of the capacity of the drug laboratory, the selection of persons for the smuggling of drugs and their payment. The rest were legalized by investing in legal businesses, in particular in the development of farming and the tourist base of the group leader.
According to preliminary data of law enforcement agencies, members of the group received more than 5 million UAH of “profit” every month from criminal business.
Yesterday, June 29, after the control purchase of a kilogram of carfentanil, in order to stop the criminal activities of the group members, the law enforcement officers conducted a special police operation in which more than 350 law enforcement officers were involved. The organizer and 15 most active participants were detained with the strong support of the special purpose police company, KORD and TOR in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine
grouping.
In addition, 46 authorized searches were carried out simultaneously on the places of residence of the defendants, the location of the drug laboratory, garage premises and vehicles used by the defendants.
More than 60 kg of various drugs were seized, in particular more than 20 kg of carfentanil (from one kilogram of pure substance you can get close to 100 kg of ready-to-use drug). Laboratory equipment and 250 liters of liquid components for the production of hazardous substances were also seized.
This is the largest single batch of carfentanil seized in Ukraine in history. Its value at “black market” prices is about 110 million UAH.
The seized drugs, including carfentanil, were sent to the Expert Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, since these specialists, with the assistance of the DEA (US Drug Enforcement Administration), have undergone appropriate training and received a sufficient level of qualification necessary for conducting research of the specified substance. All detainees, including four foreigners, were notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Art. 255 (creation, leadership of a criminal community or criminal organization, and
also participation in it) and part 3 of article 27, part 4 of article 28 part 3 of article 307 (illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, shipment or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The issue of choosing preventive measures for suspects is being resolved.
At the same time, the issue of imposing arrest on 16 houses, 15 cars, 13 apartments, 2 garages, a farm and a recreation center, which the defendants purchased with money obtained by criminal means, is being resolved.
Procedural guidance in criminal proceedings is carried out by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
