Oleksandr Poklad, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has dismissed two senior SBU officials who have been named in a NABU and SAPO investigation as part of Operation “Carthage”.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
The agency said it is providing full support and facilitating all necessary procedural actions in the criminal proceedings.
Oleksandr Poklad stressed that he expects a transparent, objective and impartial investigation. He said he has already discussed the situation with the heads of NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
“There is clear and constructive co-operation. In addition, I am in contact with our colleagues in the special services of partner countries. We are doing everything necessary to ensure that the investigation into these crimes also takes place in other jurisdictions,” the SBU chief said.
Separately, Poklad addressed a suspect in the case nicknamed “the Mexican”, urging him to come to Ukraine and surrender to law enforcement.
“Or we will find him ourselves, wherever he may be hiding. We have the experience. The SBU works and will work only for Ukraine,” he emphasised.
Context
NABU and SAPO published details of the exposure, as part of Operation “Carthage”, of a new criminal organisation. It included law enforcement officers and members of the criminal underworld, and specialised in keeping illegal call centres running and distributing drugs, as well as in economic crimes.
Members of the organisation are suspected of counterfeiting euros, keeping call centres operating in exchange for bribes to law enforcement, and distributing narcotic substances, including through the U420 network.
Oleksandr Abakumov, head of NABU’s detectives department, said the criminal organisation had at least 12 members. These included:
- “Criminal” – the alleged founder and leader, a person with a criminal past and present. He has three convictions.
- “The Mexican” – a Russian citizen, founder of “Khimprom”. He is wanted.
- “Boxer” and Pasha, subordinates of “Criminal”, who carried out the dirty work.
- “Price” – one of the heads of the National Police’s Strategic Investigations Department.
- “Consultant” – another police officer who, according to NABU, co-ordinated certain areas of illegal activity.
- “Akim” – a senior SBU official who provided protection from the attention of colleagues.
The criminal organisation tried to extend its influence to various officials. On 23 July this year, “Criminal” visited the SBU building.
According to NABU, SBU interlocutors knew that “Criminal” was linked to “the Mexican”, and that helping him meant helping the founder of a drug syndicate.