{"id":1339554,"date":"2026-01-02T13:15:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T11:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/one-shipment-worth-200-000-ukraine-uncovers-international-cocaine-supply-channel\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T13:15:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T11:15:48","slug":"one-shipment-worth-200-000-ukraine-uncovers-international-cocaine-supply-channel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/one-shipment-worth-200-000-ukraine-uncovers-international-cocaine-supply-channel\/","title":{"rendered":"One shipment worth $200,000: Ukraine uncovers international cocaine supply channel"},"content":{"rendered":"

SBI officers, with the assistance of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, have disrupted a transnational cocaine supply channel from European countries. The organizer was detained in Odessa and charged with illegal drug trafficking and sale.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is reported bythe State Bureau of Investigation<\/a> .<\/p>\n

The special operation established that the drug trafficking was organized by an international criminal group, which included citizens of Ukraine, Armenia, the Czech Republic and Germany. The group members acted in a conspiratorial manner, had a clear division of roles and used several levels of logistics.<\/p>\n

The organizer had previously served a sentence in the United States for similar crimes. After returning to Ukraine, he resumed his illegal activities, involving accomplices abroad. One of them permanently resided in Germany and coordinated the regular arrival of narcotics from EU countries. Another defendant, together with his father, was responsible for the receipt, storage and further distribution of prohibited substances in Ukraine, maintaining contacts with wholesale buyers.<\/p>\n

In the first phase, the criminals used discreet methods of transporting small consignments of drugs through couriers who hid the substances in their bodies. Such deliveries were regular and served to test channels and routes.<\/p>\n

The group planned to significantly expand the scope of drug trafficking by negotiating alternative delivery channels, including maritime logistics and container transportation through the port infrastructure of Odessa. Particular attention was paid to the possibility of passing customs and border controls without obstacles.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, the cocaine was planned to be imported in batches of up to 2 kilograms per week. The cost of one batch on the illegal market exceeded 200 thousand US dollars.<\/p>\n

Intentions to involve individual employees of customs and border authorities in illegal activities have also been documented. The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the possible involvement of officials in the transaction.<\/p>\n

SBI officers detained an organizer of international drug trafficking in Odessa. He was charged with illegal transportation and sale of narcotics (Part 3, Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).<\/p>\n

The sanction of the article provides for a penalty of up to 12 years of imprisonment. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying all persons involved in the functioning of the international criminal network, including co-organizers who are outside Ukraine. <\/p>\n