In the course of a large-scale special operation, law enforcement officers shut down arms and drug trafficking channels. A total of 116 people across Ukraine have been served with a notice of suspicion.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Under the procedural guidance of specialised defence prosecutors, the Prosecutor General's Office, together with the State Security Service of Ukraine, the Investigative Departments of the National Police in the regions, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation, conducted large-scale special operations and closed down the channels of sale of weapons, ammunition and drugs.
As a result of the investigation, 49 people were served notices of suspicion on the facts of illegal storage and sale of weapons and ammunition throughout Ukraine, as well as misappropriation of weapons and ammunition (Article 263, Article 410 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Another 67 people were served a notice of suspicion over drug trafficking (Art. 307, Art. 309, Art. 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted over 129 searches, seizing weapons and ammunition. These included 12 mortar and anti-tank mines, 187 grenade launchers and almost 180 rounds of ammunition, over 85 assault rifles and machine guns, 20 improvised firearms, 124 detonators, 124 TNT blocks, over 170 grenades, 45 pistols, almost 38,000 rounds of ammunition, 15 kg of gunpowder and artillery shells.
In addition, more than 69 searches were conducted in several regions of Ukraine, which resulted in the discovery and seizure of psychotropic substances worth over UAH 15.5 million, including 15 kg of amphetamine, more than 7,000 MDMA pills weighing about 3 kg, almost 1 kg of cannabis, more than 80 grams of a particularly dangerous psychotropic substance - PVP, cannabis, as well as UAH 100,000, mobile phones, SIM cards, bank cards, scales and draft records.
According to the investigation, the suspects used Telegram to sell drugs and psychotropic substances by means of "bookmarks" and postal services, including in the frontline regions.
The 11 suspects are charged with drug trafficking as part of a criminal organisation.
During the searches, the operation of a laboratory for the production of drugs and psychotropic substances was shut down.
The process of choosing a measure of restraint for the suspects is ongoing. The investigative actions in the criminal proceedings are ongoing.