At the beginning of the year, law enforcement officers detained all members of the well-known "Dvadtsativski" drug syndicate, which has been active in Kryvyi Rih since the 1990s.
In an interview, the head of the Department of Strategic Investigations, Andriy Rubel, told how the work of the syndicate was built, what the hierarchy was, and how it was possible to detain everyone, including the organizers.
During the preparation of the material, Andrii Rubel's comments were used, as well as operational information of the DSR and the National Police of Ukraine.
"Dvadtsativski" is a Kryvyi Rih syndicate of drug dealers that has been active in the city since the nineties. It was named after the eponymous quarter in Kryvyi Rih. "Dvadtsativski" started as a gang of racketeers. When they gained a lot of influence, they began to "sell" their racketeering license to other, not so big gangs. They, in turn, gave part of the "tribute" from the racket to the "twenties" themselves for a license and force assistance.
At the same time, the gang started producing and distributing drugs. Soon the gang turned into a real syndicate with its own hierarchy.
Photo from the place of detention (photo: National Police of Ukraine)
"They systematically approached the construction of the work so that they could not be exposed. Kryvyi Rih is divided into districts, these districts are divided into quarters. In every quarter, in every district, they had their representatives who sold drugs. There was even a "power block" - people who came if there were "problems". They called the process of "raising" their children "fishing", Rubel notes.
In general, the work was as follows - at first, the gang obtained narcotic drugs illegally, including from abroad. For example, in Serbia, the "twenties" had their own person, whom they called "Apothecary". Couriers went to Aptekar and took pills, mainly pseudoephedrine, from him. They hid pills in the bottoms of cars and entered Ukraine through customs points where there are no scanners.
Drug laboratory (photo: screenshot of operational shooting)
In Kryvyi Rih, pills were distributed by "kitchens" where "cooks" worked. Through various manipulations, the "cooks" produced methamphetamine from pseudoephedrine. The address of the "kitchen" was different every time and was never repeated.
"If you and I were in this group, I wouldn't know what you do, and you wouldn't know what I do. Everyone had their own role, one - to go to the post office, the second - to take straws (drinking straws, they used to pack drugs - ed.), the third - to take a bag. And the third one doesn't even know what he's taking. The fourth must bring the bag to the apartment, where the packing will be done, and leave. The fifth comes and packs, the sixth takes it and gives it away," the head of the DSR notes.
Video of the detention (photo: screenshot of operational recording)
The customers of "Dvadtsiativskyi" knew that in order to obtain drugs, it was enough to call the "telephone shop". The "operator" already knew where the client was and sent him to the "baryga", who was on duty in the same area all day. When the "baryg" ran out of drugs, a "recharger" would come to him - he would take money and give methamphetamine. In total, there were about 25 "telephone shops" in Kryvyi Rih. "Dvadtsativski" tried to be customer-oriented - in their syndicate there was a system of discounts and bonuses for "wholesalers" and regular customers.
Detention of "twenties"
Over the course of a year, law enforcement officers documented the work of the "twenties" - during this time, investigators collected 880 volumes of indictments. Some time before the detention, 1,200 police officers and operatives were brought to Kryvyi Rih.
In order not to arouse suspicion, they were brought in blocks - only six blocks of 200 people each. In each block, from 1 to 3 people knew about the complete course of operations. The decision was made to detain the highest echelons of the gang - the immediate leader, his right-hand man and leaders of criminal organizations that sold drugs. The leaders of the power block of the gang were also detained.
"Well, these are strong guys, rich people. They legalized money received from the drug business, bought a lot in Dnipropetrovsk region and Kryvyi Rih - they had real estate, cars, restaurants, shops abroad," Rubel added.
In total, 38 people were detained - all members of the gang. The organizers of the syndicate face up to 12 years in prison.
It will be recalled that the detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Volyn region exposed a group of persons who organized the sale of contraband goods. One of the accused is detained.
