An international cocaine smuggling ring has been uncovered in Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine has dismantled a criminal group that had organized an international supply route for hard drugs from southern Europe to Ukraine. According to the investigation, the drug syndicate’s monthly “revenue” amounted to 15–20 million hryvnias.
As part of a special operation, 10 members of the group were simultaneously detained in the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions.
According to law enforcement officials, the suspects were involved in the distribution of wholesale shipments of cocaine, ecstasy, and other psychotropic substances that were illegally imported into Ukraine from abroad.
The investigation established that a Kyiv resident served as the coordinator of the drug trafficking network in Ukraine.
According to the case file, he used specialized forums to recruit individuals who, in exchange for monetary compensation, distributed drugs in various regions of the country.
During the first series of searches, approximately 2 kg of cocaine and other illegal substances were seized from the suspects.
Subsequently, law enforcement officers discovered more than 8 kg of cocaine and other potent substances in the suspects’ hiding places.
According to the investigation, the total value of the seized drugs is approximately 70 million hryvnias.
Currently, the 10 detainees have been notified of charges under Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — the illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, shipment, or sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances committed by an organized group.
All suspects are in custody. They face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
In addition, law enforcement officials have documented the involvement of three other Ukrainian citizens who are currently in Spain.
According to the investigation, they may have been involved in organizing an international drug trafficking network.
The issue of their extradition to Ukraine is currently being resolved.
Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Dnipro District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
Previously, prosecutors from the Transcarpathian Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Defense in the Western Region filed an indictment with the court against two members of an organized group, who are accused of smuggling nearly 6 kilograms of cocaine into Ukraine and preparing the drugs for sale.
Ukrainian and Bulgarian law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale special operation, which 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 detained, and drugs, precursors, and laboratory equipment with a total value of over 40 million hryvnias were seized.
Prior to this, the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with Bulgarian law enforcement 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.
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