The National Police of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale anti-drug operation aimed at destroying criminal drug trafficking centers operating in 15 regions of the country
This is already the third major operation by law enforcement agencies in the past month to combat drug trafficking, demonstrating the government's serious intention to put an end to the illegal circulation of prohibited substances and to reduce the level of drug-related crime. According to official information released by the National Police of Ukraine, during the special operation, they managed to expose and dismantle an entire network involved in the manufacturing and supply of psychotropic substances across all regions of the country. As part of the coordinated effort, which involved officers from the Department for Combating Drug Crime, investigators, and special police units, 66 suspects were detained, including the organizer of an entire criminal group. The operation was carried out with the support of the Security Service of Ukraine and the leadership of the General Prosecutor’s Office, demonstrating the high level of responsibility and expertise of the law enforcement agencies in this field. Details about the scale of the operation indicate that the criminals established a widespread network of laboratories and storage facilities where they manufactured, packaged, and stored large quantities of prohibited substances. Experts estimate that they produced over 700 kilograms of drugs monthly, supplying several regions of Ukraine—from Kyiv to Kryvyi Rih, and from Lviv to Kharkiv. The street value of such a batch could reach over 300 million hryvnias, making this one of the largest networks in the country. During searches, law enforcement officers seized a significant amount of prohibited substances and precursor chemicals from the detainees. Specifically, 118 kilograms of mephedrone, 160 liters of chemical reaction mixtures capable of producing nearly 80 kilograms of drugs, over 156 kilograms of alpha-PVP, and more than 30 kilograms of methamphetamine were confiscated. Additionally, approximately 12 tons of precursor chemicals used in the illegal production of psychotropic substances were seized. This marks a serious blow to illegal drug trafficking and showcases the high professionalism and resourcefulness of the organizers. Ukrainian legislation allows for the detention of suspects involved in such cases under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code — and this was the basis for the arrest of all 66 detainees. Investigative actions are ongoing to establish all circumstances of the criminal activity and to hold all participants of this criminal scheme accountable. Law enforcement reports indicate that they eradicated 17 drug laboratories and 15 storage facilities with psychotropic products. This was an effective operation aimed at combating illegal drug circulation in Ukraine. It confirms that the state authorities are strengthening measures against drug crime, working closely with various agencies and specialized units. Experts emphasize that such actions are key to stabilizing the situation in the country, as fighting drug trafficking and dismantling organized criminal groups are crucial for maintaining public safety and health. Ukrainian legislation provides for strict penalties for all involved in the illegal circulation of psychotropic substances, and the results of this operation demonstrate the growing capacity of law enforcement to combat this phenomenon. At the same time, investigators continue their efforts to document the entire chain of criminal activity, hold all accomplices accountable, and restore violated legal norms. This is another step toward cleansing Ukraine of illegal drug trafficking, with the goal of protecting citizens from the destructive effects of drug abuse and preventing the spread of the so-called “black” drug market in the future.