Kharkiv drug dealers, from whom SBI seized 1.5 tonnes of opium poppy straws, will be tried

Based on the SBI materials, three drug dealers who attempted to set up industrial-scale drug production in Kharkiv for sale in the region and in the frontline areas will be tried.

The indictment was sent to court.

Law enforcement officers discovered that three residents of the regional centre rented a warehouse in Kharkiv, where they used special equipment to grind and pack opium poppy straws for sale. The "goods" were imported disguised as mixed animal feed from Zaporizhzhia.

The SBI detained three suspects in October 2022.

During the special operation, the SBI seized 1.5 tonnes of opium poppy straws, which could be used to produce about 100,000 doses of drugs worth at least UAH 25 million.

The SBI agents found the drug supply channel - the illicit production was set up in Zaporizzhia. During the search in Zaporizhzhia, about one tonne of straw, equipment for packaging drugs, firearms and cold steel, and draft records were seized.

Currently, three Kharkiv drug dealers are accused of illegal acquisition and storage of particularly dangerous drugs with the intent to sell on a large scale, committed by a group of persons (Part 2, 3 Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property.

The case is under the supervision of the Kharkiv Region Prosecutor's Office.