Arrest of the criminal group
The Security Service of Ukraine in collaboration with the National Police neutralized a criminal group that had prepared a large batch of trophy weapons for underground sale. As a result of the operation, the organizer of the group, two of his accomplices, and three criminal elements were detained.
Seized weapons
During the arrest, law enforcement officers seized 150 units of trophy weapons, including:
- 75 samples of firearms,
- 38 hand grenades,
- more than 20 detonators,
- two grenade launchers,
- 13 thousand bullets.
The participants of the group were engaged in transporting weapons from front-line areas and storing them in caches. In addition, the defendants equipped underground workshops to restore weapons.
Those detained have already been informed of suspicion under part 2 of Article 28 and part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The suspects face a penalty of imprisonment for up to seven years. It is noteworthy that recently the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 9538, which gives civilians the right to possess firearms.
The arrest of this group is an important step in the fight against the illegal circulation of weapons in Ukraine, especially in the context of increasing risks associated with military conflicts. Given the recent changes in legislation allowing civilians to possess firearms, law enforcement agencies are tightening control over the circulation of weapons to prevent their use for criminal purposes.