Operation Breaking Bad: National Police dismantled two drug laboratories and disrupted drug supply routes. PHOTOS
The National Police of Ukraine carried out a two-stage special operation, ‘Breaking Bad’, during which they dismantled two drug laboratories and put an end to the activities of two criminal groups. The suspects were manufacturing methadone and amphetamine for wholesale distribution in Ukraine and abroad.
According to Censor.NET, this was reported by the National Police press centre.
"87 searches, two drug laboratories dismantled and methadone worth over 10 million hryvnias seized – these are the results of the two-stage special operation ‘Breaking Bad’. Law enforcement officers have dismantled two criminal groups that were manufacturing methadone and amphetamine for wholesale distribution in Ukraine and abroad. Six suspects have been arrested, and eight individuals have been served with notices of suspicion," the statement reads.
According to the investigation, the suspects organised the production of drugs and psychotropic substances on a particularly large scale. The members divided responsibilities amongst themselves for the manufacture, storage, transport and sale of the prohibited substances.
Over 10 kg of methadone were produced per month in the Kyiv region
According to operational intelligence, the Kyiv drug laboratory had a production capacity of over 10 kg of methadone per month. The organiser enlisted the help of a co-organiser holding a PhD in Chemistry, who possessed specialist knowledge of the synthesis of the narcotic substance.
The priority sales market was abroad. To conceal the shipment, the methadone was converted into a liquid form and disguised as a car fluid. A special hiding place was fitted inside the vehicle. The plan was to transport the drugs via Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey to Georgia.
At the same time, an extensive retail distribution network was operating. An online shop operated on Telegram, where ‘customers’ could order methadone remotely. The channel had a wide range of customers, and pre-trained administrators were responsible for running the shop. The ‘product’ was delivered to customers contact-free – via postal services.
Amphetamine was manufactured in mobile laboratories
Another group organised the production of amphetamine in mobile drug laboratories in the Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. Monthly production volume reached around 10 kilograms of finished product. The psychotropic substance was sold in bulk consignments of one kilogram or more to trusted buyers, with some of it being supplied to the Republic of Moldova.
Conduct of the special operation
Whilst gathering evidence, the police systematically dismantled the storage network: they arrested individuals who were storing the manufactured substances and facilitating their subsequent distribution. This made it possible to cut off the supply chain from the laboratories to the distributors and prevent the manufactured batches from entering illegal circulation.
The first stage of the special operation was carried out by the police on 13 September. Law enforcement officers dismantled a methadone laboratory, arrested a courier-laboratory assistant and disrupted the drug supply chain. During 12 searches, 17 litres of liquid methadone, 11 kilograms of precursors, chemical compounds, laboratory equipment, technical equipment, a car and cash were seized. The estimated value of the seized drugs on the black market is over 10 million hryvnias.
The second phase of the special operation took place on 30 September. During 75 searches, law enforcement officers seized equipment and supplies for the manufacture of illicit substances, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, bank cards, 11 vehicles and cash.
In total, 87 searches were carried out and two drug laboratories were dismantled as part of the two-stage operation. Six members of the criminal groups were arrested, and eight individuals were served with notices of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 307 and Part 3 of Article 311 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – the unlawful production and sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as unlawful activities involving precursors, depending on the offences committed. The penalty under the most serious charge carries a sentence of up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The suspects have been remanded in custody without the possibility of bail.
