In Lviv and across Lviv region, police carried out the second stage of the special operation “Rubicon”, during which they exposed 28 individuals involved in the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The operation ran from 4 to 17 June. Operatives from the Department for Combating Drug Crime in Lviv region, together with officers from territorial police units and under the procedural guidance of the prosecution authorities, checked the territory of the city of Lviv and the region to identify individuals who had set up the production and sale of drugs.
During the special operation, two individuals were detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. Preliminary findings indicate that they acted as so-called “stashers” for two online shops on the Telegram messenger and distributed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by arranging “stashes” in various districts of Lviv.
One of the detainees, who, according to the investigation, had unlawfully acquired and stored with intent to sell the psychotropic substances methamphetamine and PVP in particularly large quantities, has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A preventive measure in the form of remand in custody without the right to bail has been imposed on him. The other detainee has been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, with a preventive measure of remand in custody with the possibility of bail set at 246,240 hryvnias.
As for the remaining 26 individuals – clients of the online shops – criminal proceedings have been initiated under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 309 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in relation to the unlawful acquisition, possession, transportation or shipment of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances without intent to sell.
Since the start of the special operation, police in Lviv region have seized from illicit circulation more than 620 grams of drugs and psychotropics, including 331 grams of PVP, 130 grams of cannabis, 80 grams of mephedrone, 70 grams of amphetamine, 5 grams of MDMA and 2 grams of methadone. The estimated value of the seized substances at black market prices is more than 400,000 hryvnias.
Staff of the Department for Combating Drug Crime in Lviv region and Police Station No. 2 of Lviv District Police Department No. 2 continue to document the unlawful activities of individuals who organised the sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances using the “stash” method in Lviv and by sending them across the territory of Ukraine.