A Large-Scale Law Enforcement Operation to Dismantle Drug Networks Across the Country: Organizer and Key Participants Detained
As part of a major and extensive special operation, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies successfully dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking schemes, which was divided into several regions and involved the production and distribution of psychoactive substances throughout Ukraine. According to official information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the arrest of the criminal group’s organizer marked a significant stage in the investigation, which lasted several months and involved over 60 arrests of group members. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, during the operation, 67 individuals were detained, including the organizer—a 32-year-old resident of Kyiv region, previously convicted on multiple charges related to illegal drug trafficking. The official stated that at the time of detention, authorities found 19 laboratories and 17 warehouses where over 700 kilograms of dangerous psychoactive substances were produced monthly. Among these were alpha-PVP, mephedrone, and amphetamine—all intended for widespread distribution across the entire country. Preliminary estimates suggest that the street value of the seized drugs exceeds 2 billion hryvnias, representing potential profits for the criminals. This underscores the scale and risks associated with such illegal activities, which pose serious threats to Ukraine’s security system and public health. Additionally, law enforcement officials found that to conceal the true extent of their operation, criminals frequently used cryptocurrency for payments and transactions, complicating efforts to track financial flows. This was their main method of “masking” criminal activity and maintaining anonymity. Source: Official spokesperson of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko The detention was the result of coordinated efforts among several law enforcement agencies—personnel from the Department for Combating Narcocrime, investigators of the National Police, regional administrations, as well as colleagues from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General. An important role was played by firms specializing in tracking virtual assets, which helped trace cryptocurrency transactions and understand the financial volumes of the criminal group. The investigation and targeted operation began on May 13, when law enforcement officials announced the exposure of an illegal production and supply network of psychoactive substances across all regions of Ukraine. It was then revealed that the group was manufacturing over 700 kilograms of drugs each month, supplying “consumers” in various regions of the country. This allowed the criminals to generate high profits and establish a large-scale distribution channel. Currently, the operation is one of the largest in the fight against drug trafficking, with suspects detained in different regions of Ukraine. During investigative proceedings, significant quantities of finished products, laboratory equipment, and financial documents recording drug sales and cash flows were seized. These measures not only disrupted the activities of the criminal group but also contributed to preventing new attempts to organize similar operations. The Prosecutor General and the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs assure that such operations will become systematic and regularly conducted to neutralize drug businesses and protect citizens from their destructive effects. These successful cases serve as a clear signal to criminals that Ukrainian law enforcement can identify and punish even the most covert forms of illegal drug circulation, thereby increasing safety and trust in the country’s law enforcement system.