Police Dismantle Major Drug Lab in Western Ukraine, Seize 165kg of Amphetamine

Criminal Network Uncovered in Western Ukraine

According to Главком: Authorities in the Ivano-Frankivsk region have shut down a criminal group specializing in the manufacture and sale of narcotics and psychotropic substances. General Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko announced the operation, which resulted in the detention of four individuals. The suspects include two 18-year-olds, one minor, and a 37-year-old accomplice.

Findings of the Investigation

As part of the investigation, 24 searches were conducted, leading to the seizure of the following items:

• Over 165 kilograms of amphetamine
• Cannabis
• 99 ecstasy tablets
• Drug manufacturing equipment
• Illegal accounting records
• Bank cards
• Mobile phones
• Approximately 1.5 million Ukrainian hryvnias in cash

At the garage of the 37-year-old suspect, psychotropic substances and an arsenal of weapons were discovered, including:

• Two automatic firearms
• Three pistols
• A pump-action shotgun
• Grenades with detonators
• Ammunition

Three of the participants were detained at the drug production site under Article 208 of Ukraine's Criminal Procedure Code. They have been notified of suspicion under parts 2 and 3 of Article 307 and part 2 of Article 313 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The 37-year-old accomplice was detained under Article 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code and is charged under part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code. The prosecutor's office has already filed motions for the adult suspects to be held in custody without bail, while requesting round-the-clock house arrest for the minor.

The investigation is ongoing. In a related development, the Solomianska District Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv has completed its investigation and sent an indictment to court concerning six members of a group that set up an amphetamine-producing lab. This case is part of a broader national crackdown. In February, law enforcement carried out a special operation, codenamed "Rubicon," which involved over 500 searches across 21 regions. That operation dismantled four organized groups and one criminal organization specializing in the production and distribution of synthetic cathinones like alpha-PVP, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and mephedrone.

This operation reflects the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat organized crime and the illegal drug trade in Ukraine.

The significance of such measures extends beyond public safety, as they also aim to prevent the development of youth addictions, given that a minor was among those detained. The continuation of the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings could have a substantial impact on the fight against such crimes in the country. Ukraine has been intensifying its efforts against large-scale synthetic drug production, which is often linked to transnational criminal networks.

The crackdown on illegal drug production continues across Ukraine, as evidenced by a recent operation in Kyiv that revealed a lab capable of producing 40 kilograms of amphetamine each month. This operation highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to dismantle narcotics networks throughout the country. For more details on this significant investigation, you can read about the discovery of the amphetamine lab in Kyiv.