SBU apprehends ring of illicit arms traffickers in Kyiv. PHOTOS
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained an international crime ring involved in illicit trafficking and manufacture of firearms and ammunition.
"We have identified members of the ring which smuggled parts of firearms from the U.S. and EU through their foreign accomplices," SBU Deputy Chief Viktor Kononenko told a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing the SBU press service.
"The perpetrators used couriers to smuggle the ‘goods’ to Kyiv. The ring members then manufactured firearms for sale in the armory they equipped in the garage belonging to the ring leader.
"The criminals produced military-grade weapons and, if necessary, equipped them with homemade suppressors. The firearms were sold on the black market for 2300-2500 euros apiece," the law enforcement agency said. The perpetrators searched for potential buyers at specialized online forums. The law enforcers documented a number of the ring’s unlawful actions committed this March and April.
"SBU operatives nabbed the ringleader at a Kyiv’s street while trying to sell two handguns. The law enforcers searched the suspects’ homes and seized three machine guns, three assault rifles, two rifles, seven submachine guns, 30 handguns produced by Glock, Colt, CZ, Browning, Beretta, Walther, SigSauer, Vzor, eight rocket launchers, 32 hand grenades, five anti-personnel mines, 3,240 cartridges of various calibers, and kits of parts necessary for firearms manufacture.
