SBU, National Police dismantle five drug labs working for psychotropic traffickers from Middle East, EU

The SBU and the National Police prevented large-scale smuggling of drugs and psychotropics to the EU and the Middle East.

According to the SBU press service, as a result of a special operation jointly with the Department for Combating Drug Crimes in Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Cherkasy and Sumy Regions, a criminal organisation that manufactured and sold industrial volumes of amphetamine, α-PVP, mephedrone and cannabis was neutralised.

In the course of simultaneous operational actions, five drug laboratories were eliminated and 19 members of the group were detained. 

 In addition to the prohibited substances, the SBU seized a Kalashnikov rifle, a sniper rifle with a silencer, F-1 and RGO combat grenades, and more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition for small arms.

According to the investigation, the offenders produced over 80 kg of drugs and psychotropics worth over UAH 40 million per month. 

 The group members sold the finished "goods" through two channels: the first was aimed at customers from different regions of Ukraine, the other worked for foreign drug dealers.

To smuggle the "products" abroad in a disguised manner, the criminals hid them in international parcels under the guise of cosmetics or sanitary products.

During the operation, three organisers of the gang were detained red-handed while trying to send a consignment of α-PVP to their foreign accomplices.

Also, during nearly 90 searches at the places of manufacture, storage and sale of drugs and psychotropics, as well as in the suspects' homes and cars, the SBU found:

• almost 200 kg of drugs, namely α-PVP, mephedrone, amphetamine and cannabis, as well as precursors
• equipment for the manufacture and packaging of "goods"
• draft records with data on drug trafficking and customers
• revenues worth of more than UAH 2 million hryvnyas. 
  

  Photo: SBU

  Every month, "goods" were produced in drug laboratories for more than UAH 40 million
   The detainees were served a notice of suspicion under the articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Comprehensive measures to bring to justice all persons involved in drug trafficking are under way.