Participants in "Carthage" discussed bribe to Minister "K" and meeting with "Arakh***" over drugs – NABU
Individuals implicated in the latest phase of Operation Carthage facilitated the operation of the U420 chain of shops, which sold narcotic substances.
This is stated in material released by NABU, Censor.NET reports.
Details
The shops were owned by "Mexican", while "Criminal" held a stake in the business and received a percentage of its turnover each month.
"Mexican" also asked "Criminal" to find a way to bribe Minister "K" (likely referring to then-Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko - Ed.) to ensure the shop could operate unhindered.
The scheme’s participants were also prepared to bribe not only ministers but other influential people capable of resolving matters at the state level.
They also sought ways to protect their business through parliament and relevant legislation.
One option they considered was drafting and passing bills that would fully legalise marijuana in Ukraine.
Specifically, a reference in the conversation appears to be to Davyd Arakhamiia, the head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction.
Background
- Earlier, NABU reported that a senior SSU official was threatening to use a weapon and obstructing a search.
- The Bureau subsequently said that NABU and SAPO had exposed a criminal organisation that systematically bribed senior officials in the SSU, National Police and prosecutor’s offices in exchange for "protection" for fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses.
- NABU said it had exposed a criminal organisation whose members had established a system of regular bribes to senior law enforcement officials to allow fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses to operate unhindered.
