The police in Kyiv have apprehended two individuals engaged in the illegal drug trade, with a total value of about 16 million hryvnias.
These two men set up an underground drug shop, distributing prohibited substances hidden within fake musical speakers. Such operations could lead to a decade of imprisonment for the offenders.
The arrest occurred during the sale of another batch of drugs, as operatives and investigators from the Kyiv police department, supported by the Security Service of Ukraine, set up a sting operation.
The authorities discovered that for over a year and a half, the criminals were selling drugs through an underground store, offering a wide array of narcotic and psychotropic substances. Communication with clients was maintained through a dedicated Telegram channel.
The suspects received payments for their products via cryptocurrency. They managed deliveries through taxi services, concealing packages inside fake audio systems. Investigators revealed that their profits amounted to around 25,000 to 30,000 dollars monthly.
Among those arrested was a 22-year-old man from Kyiv, who organized the illegal shop, along with his 38-year-old accomplice from Dnipropetrovsk region.
The group leader lived secretly in a semi-basement of a former restaurant in the capital, where they established a storage facility for illicit substances. During urgent searches, law enforcement seized 1.5 kg of cocaine, 300 ecstasy pills, as well as mephedrone and cannabis. Also confiscated were smoking devices, packaging equipment, mobile phones, and other material evidence.
The detainees have been charged under parts 1 and 2 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for the illegal acquisition, transportation, and storage of narcotic drugs in large quantities for the purpose of sale. The penalties for these charges can reach up to ten years of imprisonment with property confiscation. The drug dealers have been placed in custody with the option of a bail set at 250,000 hryvnias.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement is conducting investigative actions aimed at clarifying all circumstances of the organized scheme and identifying potential additional participants.
