The National Police of Ukraine carried out a complex operation aimed at dismantling a criminal group that was legalizing millions in drug profits through the accounts of fictitious individuals. The criminals packaged and distributed precursors for manufacturing amphetamines on a large scale. The product was delivered via postal services or through 'stash houses', reaching 18 drug labs across six regions of Ukraine. Each month, over 60 kg of amphetamine was produced, generating profits of up to 18 million hryvnias.
This was reported by the press service of the National Police.
The law enforcement agencies uncovered a criminal organization involved in the sale of precursors. The leader of the group was responsible for the continuous supply and distribution of raw materials for amphetamine production, while his subordinates packaged several kilograms of the illegal product daily in rented apartments, changing locations every two weeks. They then sent the precursors to drug labs through the mail or via 'stashes', using disposable SIM cards for each transaction.
The police also identified a separate group of criminals in Kyiv who were involved in laundering the proceeds by recruiting individuals willing to provide their personal information to open bank accounts for a fee. In this manner, they engaged over a thousand fictitious persons, withdrawing more than 200 million hryvnias within a year into two deposit cryptocurrency wallets.
To dismantle the drug cartel, over 300 police officers were involved across various regions of Ukraine, acting with the support of the Special Forces and the State Border Guard Service.
As part of the operation, over a hundred searches were conducted across ten regions, leading to the discovery of luxury vehicles, more than $80,000 in various currencies, 60 kg of cannabis, 7 kg of 'a-PVP', 3.5 kg of amphetamine, 900 units of 'MDMA', and other evidence of criminal activities.
Investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to announce suspicions against 16 individuals involved in the drug cartel under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 2 of Article 255;
- Part 3 of Article 307;
- Part 3 of Article 311;
- Part 3 of Article 209.
The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
