Law enforcement officers have uncovered a drug gang that was involved in supplying cannabis extract through the European Union to Ukraine. A 34-year-old Kyiv resident is suspected of organizing drug trafficking. In total, police officers conducted more than 30 searches in Kyiv, as well as Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odessa regions.
This was reported on Wednesday, April 8, by the press service of the National Police.
According to the investigation, the drug was loaded into Pod systems Pod systems are a compact type of electronic cigarette consisting of a battery and a replaceable cartridge (POD), which replaces the classic atomizer. They are designed for quick saturation with nicotine and were sold throughout the country. They earned about 10 million hryvnias per month.
“The “business” was organized by a 34-year-old resident of the capital. The Kyiv resident involved 4 more accomplices in participating in the illegal activity. The criminal group had a clear hierarchical structure and acted according to a pre-developed algorithm,” the report states.
As the police said, to implement the drug scheme, the leader of the group established contact with a resident of one of the European Union countries. Together they developed a mechanism for smuggling cannabis extract to Ukraine. Prohibited substances in especially large quantities were disguised as food products and sent to Ukraine.
“The perpetrators filled electronic smoking devices – so-called Pod systems – with the obtained cannabis extract, and to sell drugs, they created and administered an online store through which they accepted orders from “clients”. The drugs were sent by mail directly to buyers or accomplices who acted as sellers, from different regions of the country,” the National Police said in a statement.
Law enforcement officers conducted more than 30 searches in Kyiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Odessa regions and seized more than 4 kilograms of illegally imported cannabis extract. It could be used to make about 4 thousand Pod-systems. In addition, 3.5 kg of jelly bears containing narcotic substances, 721 Pod-systems filled with cannabis extract and 3.7 thousand empty Pod-systems, computer equipment, data drives, mobile phones, bank cards, SIM cards, ammunition and six cars were seized.
The police reported that the suspect in the organization of the scheme was detained. He and four of his accomplices were informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code on the illegal production and sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues. The issue of choosing preventive measures in the form of detention is being decided. The sanction of the incriminated article provides for up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.