Drug trafficking through a chain of stores, call centers, and threats - hundreds of searches conducted in Ukraine, "Khimprom" group exposed
Kyiv • UNN
Law enforcement conducted over 350 searches, exposing a drug trafficking network, fraudulent call centers, and acts of violence. Property worth 125 million hryvnias was seized.
Law enforcement officers exposed the activities of the criminal group "Khimprom", whose activities are associated with the production and sale of synthetic drugs. As part of the case, hundreds of searches were conducted in Kyiv and across regions on suspicion of drug trafficking, call centers, and violent crimes, the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police reported on Wednesday, writes UNN.
Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office, the large-scale activities of the criminal group "Khimprom" were exposed. Its participants built a branched system of illegal earnings and influence: drug trafficking through a network of stores, fraudulent call centers to defraud citizens of the European Union, and violent crimes.
As noted by the prosecutor's office, "Khimprom" is known as a criminal group whose activities are associated with the production and sale of synthetic drugs.
According to the National Police, "Khimprom" is a system of criminal influence on Ukraine, built by a 36-year-old Russian citizen nicknamed Mexican. Since 2019, the leader of the organization has been on the international wanted list and, hiding abroad, continued to remotely coordinate the activities of the criminal network members and the distribution of financial flows, the police reported.
The group, according to the police, had a large-scale branched structure, a clear hierarchy, and exerted influence on various spheres of state activity. Within the community, there was a well-established division of roles: some participants were responsible for drug manufacturing, others for informational support, discrediting, and pressure through media on those who hindered their illegal activities.
"Police officers who exposed the community were persecuted. Opponents became targets," the National Police stated.
According to the prosecutor's office, law enforcement officers are currently documenting new episodes of its activity on the territory of Ukraine and identifying all those involved in the organization, financing, and cover-up of these schemes.
Drug trafficking
"One of the areas of activity was a network of stores under the "U420" brands. Publicly, these retail outlets were positioned as stores selling CBD-based products. At the same time, under the guise of legal trade, the production, packaging, transportation, storage, and sale of products containing psychotropic substances were organized," the Prosecutor General's Office stated.
As part of the special operation to eliminate illegal production, packaging, and sale sites, over 280 searches were conducted in Kyiv and 10 regions.
As reported, tens of thousands of liters of finished products and extracts, over 12,000 "joints", 20,000 tablets, sweets containing prohibited substances, equipment, packaging materials, over 300 mobile phones, over a thousand bank cards, 145 seals, documents, and cash were seized. The estimated value of the seized items is over UAH 75 million.
It was also indicated that 416 accounts of business entities, which, according to the investigation, were involved in the scheme, were arrested.
Call centers
"Another area of the group's activity was fraudulent call centers that operated in Ukraine and defrauded EU citizens. As part of the international special operation "Connect", conducted jointly with law enforcement agencies of Latvia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, a network of call centers in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Ivano-Frankivsk was liquidated," the PGO reported.
According to the prosecutor's office, the fraudsters impersonated police officers or bank employees, convinced victims to transfer funds to "secure" accounts or cryptocurrency, and also induced them to install remote access programs. This allowed them to gain control over the victims' bank accounts.
During the cessation of illegal call center activities, over 70 searches were conducted.
As indicated, over 200 units of computer and server equipment, mobile phones, electronic media, documents, and premium-class cars were seized. At least 50 episodes of fraud against 47 citizens of European Union countries have been documented. The amount of damages exceeds UAH 50 million.
Violent crimes
"In addition, the criminal group committed violent crimes. The investigation established facts of intimidation of a person and his family due to a non-existent debt of 700 thousand US dollars. The organizer of the criminal organization, who is on the international wanted list, systematically threatened the victims with physical violence," the Prosecutor General's Office stated.
According to the prosecutor's office, group members damaged family property through arson, explosions, and other generally dangerous methods, and also collected and disseminated confidential information about the entrepreneur and his relatives. Currently, 12 facts of property damage have been established.
Actions of law enforcement officers
According to the National Police, law enforcement officers recently conducted two large-scale special operations on the territory of the state. Suspicions have already been announced to members of the criminal community, including the leader.
As the police indicated, "law enforcement officers detained the co-organizer and five active perpetrators. All accomplices were served with suspicion notices, and the court chose pre-trial detention as a preventive measure, while the organizer was declared internationally wanted."
The organizer and three members of this group have been served with suspicion notices. Two members have been detained. They have been remanded in custody without the possibility of bail. As part of the investigation, other members of the criminal group have also been served with suspicion notices. They have been arrested.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying all those involved in the group's activities, its financial flows, property, and international connections.