In Ukraine, 12 drug laboratories were dismantled and 74 people were charged during a special operation
From 22 June to 13 July, law enforcement agencies carried out a nationwide special operation, ‘Gentlemen’, aimed at identifying illegal crops of narcotic plants, to disrupt the activities of individuals and groups involved in the illicit trafficking of cannabis, and to prevent narcotic raw materials from entering the illicit market.
As part of the operation, law enforcement officers carried out 435 searches across 23 regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv. According to the National Police, to conceal the illegal crops, they were planted amongst agricultural crops, taking into account the natural terrain and in hard-to-reach locations.
During the investigation, 12 clandestine laboratories were dismantled, where plants were grown in grow boxes and using hydroponic systems. Law enforcement officers seized 16,644 cannabis plants, 12,988 opium poppy plants and 172 kilograms of processed cannabis. Equipment for growing and processing narcotic plants, lamps, fans, irrigation systems, fertilisers, packaging materials, vehicles, cash, weapons, explosives and other material evidence were also seized. In particular, 950,000 hryvnias, 12,000 euros and 11,000 dollars were seized.
According to preliminary estimates, the seized plants could have been used to produce around 9.2 tonnes of narcotic products, or approximately 9 million doses. Law enforcement agencies estimate that the sale of the processed cannabis on the black market could have yielded over 60 million hryvnias.
As a result of the special operation, 34 people were arrested, whilst a further 74 suspects were served with notices of suspicion under Articles 307, 309 and 310 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Once the forensic examinations have been completed, a decision will be made on whether to notify other suspects of the charges against them.
The suspects face up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
