The Ukrainian police have disrupted the activities of a powerful criminal group from Cherkasy region, which for more than six months was engaged in the distribution of methadone in several regions, including Kyiv, Odessa, and Cherkasy. The National Police reported this on Telegram.
The drug business was run by a 33-year-old resident of Cherkasy region. She created a criminal structure of 17 people, each of whom performed a specific role: from administering Telegram channels and accepting orders to logistics, packaging and “bookmarks”. All actions were coordinated centrally, and the participants received a “salary” from the proceeds.
Drugs were purchased in large batches — 2–3 kg, then packaged into small doses and sold through specially created Telegram channels. Payments were made non-cash — on cards issued to fake persons, or cryptocurrency wallets. The amount of monthly profit reached one million hryvnia. Part of the funds went to “salaries”, cars and new deliveries, the rest was “laundered” online.
All 17 participants, including the organizer, were suspected. Under the article, which provides for the organization and participation in the drug trade, they face up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The case is being investigated as part of a criminal investigation that already has extensive evidence of the group's systematic and long-term activities. It is known that drugs were actively sold in Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Odessa regions, which indicates the interregional scale of the scheme.
