Ukraine and Bulgaria have dismantled an international drug syndicate
Ukrainian and Bulgarian law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale special operation that resulted in the dismantling of an international supply chain for psychotropic substances. During the two phases of the operation, eight members of the criminal organization were arrested, and drugs, precursors, and laboratory equipment with a total value of over 40 million hryvnias were seized.
According to law enforcement officials, operatives from the Anti-Drug Crime Directorate of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Chernivtsi Oblast, the Department for Combating Drug Crime of the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and investigators from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv Oblast, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Bulgaria, shut down a transnational drug network.
During the first phase of the special operation in the city of Burgas, an underground drug laboratory was dismantled, where psychotropic substances were manufactured for subsequent distribution in European countries.
Law enforcement officers detained:
- a 39-year-old native of Chernivtsi, believed to be the ringleader;
- a 31-year-old native of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, who served as a lab technician and was involved in the production of psychotropic substances.
“The perpetrators organized a full cycle of illegal trafficking in psychotropic substances and precursors: they manufactured them in an underground laboratory, sold them, and illegally transported them to accomplices in the Chernivtsi region,” the National Police reported.
During authorized searches of the laboratory, law enforcement officers seized:
- 50 kilograms of psychotropic substances (alpha-PVP, mephedrone, amphetamine);
- 150 liters of precursors;
- 200 liters of chemical compounds;
- laboratory equipment and other physical evidence.
According to preliminary estimates, the value of the seized items exceeds 40 million hryvnias.
The investigation established that international passenger buses were used to smuggle psychotropic substances across the state border, and the prohibited substances were carefully concealed among personal belongings and luggage.
The second phase of the special operation was carried out in the Chernivtsi region.
Law enforcement officers exposed six more members of the criminal group who were responsible for:
- receiving contraband psychotropic substances and precursors;
- packaging narcotic substances;
- transportation;
- sending them via postal services;
- setting up stashes;
- further distribution of drugs within Ukraine.
With the support of special forces from KORD, the Rapid Response Unit of the Main Department of the National Police in Chernivtsi Oblast, and the Security Service of Ukraine, law enforcement officers conducted 32 authorized searches.
During the investigative operations, the following were seized:
- amphetamine;
- cannabis;
- packaging materials;
- cash in national and foreign currencies;
- bank cards;
- cell phones;
- SIM cards;
- laptops;
- USB flash drives;
- draft notes.
Four men and two women were detained in accordance with due process.
Investigators informed the detainees that they were suspected of violating several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including:
- illegal production, manufacture, transportation, and sale of psychotropic substances;
- aiding and abetting the smuggling of narcotic drugs and precursors;
- illegal production and transportation of precursors.
In addition, three vehicles belonging to the suspects, with a total value of nearly 1.8 million hryvnias, have been seized.
The pretrial investigation is being conducted by investigators from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv Oblast under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office.
Law enforcement officials continue to identify other individuals who may be involved in the activities of an international supply chain for psychotropic substances.
This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine.
Previously, the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with Bulgarian law enforcement agencies and the National Police, uncovered an international smuggling ring for psychotropic substances. A man suspected of organizing the operation of 14 drug laboratories in Ukraine and European Union countries was detained in Bulgaria.
Investigation into Sivkovich: Former MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Worked for Russia Through the FSB.
