The Security Service of Ukraine has neutralized a branch of the "Khimprom" drug cartel

The Security Service of Ukraine has neutralized a branch of the "Khimprom" drug cartel

In 2023, Ukrainian law enforcement conducted a series of special operations against the Russian criminal organization «Himprom». The SSU stated that they systematically counter transnational crime engaged in the smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which threaten the national security of Ukraine. The comprehensive actions of the SSU were conducted jointly with the Prosecutor’s Office. Thus, the law enforcement officers managed to detain and charge 89 drug dealers. At the same time, 34 active members of «Khimprom» are already behind bars, including some of the organizers.

This was reported by the SSU press service.

The Ukrainian special service emphasized that the criminal organization from Russia has a clear hierarchical structure and unconditionally follows the instructions of its leaders, who are hiding from justice in Mexico.

According to the SSU, the extensive network of «Khimprom» participants worldwide includes nearly 1,000 people, who monthly provide illegal revenues to the drug cartel amounting to over 2 million dollars.

As reported by the media, in late 2022, law enforcement officers detained the Russian drug dealer Shchiptsov, the leader of the international organized crime group «Khimprom». He is also known as Yashin and Pecherskiy. Sources in law enforcement agencies then reported that the criminal was detained by Ukrainian operatives and was held at the Volyn Temporary Residence Center for Foreigners and Stateless Persons who are illegally on the territory of Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian lawyer Dmytro Kalenov, Shchiptsov legalized himself in Ukraine in 2014 by illegally obtaining a Ukrainian passport. This was necessary to avoid extradition via Interpol. In Ukraine, the Russian organized his activities under the guise of international logistics companies and call centers. However, by the summer of 2022, all documents allowing Shchiptsov to live in Ukraine were annulled.

«A series of important special operations were conducted by the SSU against members of the Russian criminal organization „Khimprom“. Under the coordination of Russian special services, this drug syndicate has been attempting to establish its operations in Ukraine since 2014», reported the SSU press service.

They emphasized that the Russian criminal organization has a clear hierarchical structure and unconditionally follows the instructions of its leaders, who are hiding from justice in Mexico.

In August 2023, in the Kyiv and Sumy regions, the SSU neutralized a «branch» of "Khimprom". Among those detained were two former officials of the National Police’s anti-drug crime unit, who were part of the Russian drug syndicate.

«The criminals set up two powerful drug laboratories in both regions, which ensured the industrial production of banned substances for sale in Ukraine and the EU. During searches, 23 tons of precursors (substances for drug production) and nearly 150 kg of finished psychotropics were seized from the criminals,» the SSU said in the statement.

It is noted that massive searches also took place in offices where illegal call centers were located. In Kyiv, law enforcement officers raided at least a dozen such sites, seizing equipment and digital media.