In Lviv, law enforcement officers have shut down the activities of two men suspected of distributing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances via postal deliveries across Ukraine. According to the investigation, the suspects are a 40-year-old resident of Lviv and a 32-year-old resident of Davydiv.
The investigation established that the suspects were buying PVP, amphetamine, cannabis and mephedrone in bulk, then packaging them in a rented garage in the Sykhiv district of Lviv and sending them in parcels to various regions of Ukraine. Payment, according to preliminary data, was received to a cryptocurrency wallet.
In October, law enforcement officers detained both men under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The resident of Davydiv was detained near a parcel locker immediately before dispatching the next consignment. Twenty-six packages ready for sale were seized from him: 25 of them contained a total of 210 grams of a substance resembling PVP, and one contained 25 grams of amphetamine. The other suspect was detained near the garage premises with a batch of prohibited substances he had just brought for packaging and subsequent sale. During the search of the car, officers seized about 170 grams of what is believed to be PVP, more than 500 grams of a substance resembling cannabis, and about 10 grams of what is believed to be amphetamine.
In addition, three more searches were carried out in the garage used by the men and at their places of residence. In total, during these actions, officers found and seized, in particular, 400 grams of PVP, 500 grams of a substance resembling amphetamine, 1,200 grams of what is believed to be cannabis, and 10 grams of a substance resembling mephedrone. The estimated value of the seized substances at “black” market prices exceeds UAH 2 million. It is noted that the quantity of PVP is 52 times higher than the threshold for an especially large amount, and the quantity of amphetamine is almost 36 times higher.
Law enforcement officers also documented the dispatch of 12 parcels containing prohibited substances to various regions of Ukraine. The addressees did not receive them because the parcels were seized. These parcels contained a total of 30 grams of cannabis, 209 grams of mephedrone, 125 grams of amphetamine, 5 grams of ecstasy and 22 grams of PVP.
Under the procedural guidance of the Frankivsk District Prosecutor’s Office of the city of Lviv, both detainees have been notified of suspicion of unlawful acquisition, possession for the purpose of sale and sale of a psychotropic substance, an especially dangerous psychotropic substance in an especially large amount, as well as possession and sale of narcotic substances committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy (Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). At the request of the prosecution, the suspects have been remanded in custody without the right to bail.
The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by Lviv District Police Department No. 2 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv region. Investigative actions are ongoing to identify other persons involved in the offence and the supply channels for the prohibited substances; the seized substances have been sent for expert examination. Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.