Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies have closed down a narcotics distribution channel from Russia-occupied areas in Donbas, the press service of Ukraine’s National Police has said.
“Six suspects with clearly defined roles since last August have set up a distribution channel to sell methadone from the Russia-occupied city of Donetsk in Kyiv and Kyiv region,” the police said.
The police said they had found and seized 500 grams of methadone, 400 Dimedrol [Diphenhydramine hydrochloride] tablets, 140 strong-acting Sonnat [Zopiclone] preparations. The cost of the seized drugs on the black market is estimated at Hr 1 million.
Law-enforcers took several investigative actions, including controlled buys of the narcotics.
Police said a 25-year-old resident of Kyiv region’s Kyiv-Sviatoshynsky district organized the distribution channel. She controlled the supply and sales of the narcotics and kept track of the money. During a search of her residence police found and seized methadone and cash received from drug sales, bank cards and telephones, which she used to keep in touch with buyers and members of her cartel.
Law enforcers said they had identified five more persons involved in selling drugs.
One was a 41-year-old Kyiv resident, who sold narcotics wholesale. Police seized 30 little plastic bags with methadone ready for sale, 14 mobile telephones and Hr 22,000 received from drug sales. Police also confiscated a pistol and a hand grenade.
Police said two more Kyiv residents, a 35-year-old male and 41-year-old female, engaged in drug running using drop-off points.
Police are about to place a 54-year-old female and a 28-year-old male on the wanted list as suppliers of narcotics from Donetsk.
