Major Drug Trafficking Operation Uncovered in Kyiv

In Kyiv, police have successfully dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network that was distributing psychotropic substances disguised as weight loss medications. The total value of the seized goods surpassed 52 million UAH. The criminals orchestrated the import of these dangerous substances from Asian countries without customs clearance. A group of thirteen individuals operating in Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa regions was involved in repackaging and selling these products online.
This operation was carried out by the anti-drug trafficking unit and migration police in conjunction with investigators from the Holosiivskyi district police.
The investigation revealed that the criminal organization consisted of 13 members, each fulfilling specific roles, from illegal importation to storage and distribution.
The illegal enterprise was organized by a resident of the Kyiv region and his partner, who facilitated the import of psychotropic capsules from Eastern and Central Asia into Ukraine. They stored the illicit substances in two rented warehouses and coordinated wholesale deliveries to other group members who sold them through an established online store.
All these products were marketed as a “miracle solution” for easy weight loss with quick results.
During authorized searches, law enforcement seized nearly half a million pills containing the psychotropic substance – sibutramine, along with products showing signs of counterfeiting. Their estimated value in the black market exceeds 52.2 million UAH.
Currently, two individuals have already been charged under part 2 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for the illegal acquisition, storage, and distribution of especially dangerous psychotropic substances in significant amounts. Further investigations will determine additional qualifications and charges against other participants in the criminal scheme.