Kazakhstan And Ukraine Target Drug Recruitment Network In Kyiv

A network of call centers that recruited people into the drug trade has been shut down in Ukraine. Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry and the National Police of Ukraine took part in the operation with the support of the prosecutor general’s offices of both countries, Orda.kz reports.

The special operation was carried out on May 28. Investigators found that the call centers operated under the control of a transnational criminal group linked to synthetic drug trafficking in Europe and the CIS.

On the organizers’ instructions, operators and managers searched for and recruited people. They persuaded them to work as drug couriers and packers, including in Kazakhstan.

Eleven people were detained during the operation.

The roles of each participant in the criminal scheme have been established, including organizers, senior operators and office employees who were directly involved in recruiting potential perpetrators,the statement said.

Security forces searched nine addresses. They seized about $40,000 and 10,000 euros, a Range Rover, 18 mobile phones, and 12 laptops and tablets.

Specialists are now examining the seized equipment. Police are identifying the organizers of the scheme and tracking the group’s financial flows.

Original author: Rustam Muratov

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