Ukraine's NABU uncovers second criminal organization in 'Carthage' operation
Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said on November 4 they had uncovered a second criminal organization during the 'Carthage' operation. The group allegedly linked senior SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General's Office officials with drug trafficking, fraudulent call centers, currency counterfeiting, kidnapping and torture. Several suspects were reportedly detained, including SBU Major General Serhii Duka and senior National Police officer Volodymyr Tsenov.
Key points
- NABU and SAPO announced the discovery of a second criminal organization in the 'Carthage' operation on November 4.
- The organization allegedly brought together law-enforcement officials and members of the criminal world.
- NABU says individual SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General's Office officials were involved.
- Major General Serhii Duka of the SBU and senior National Police officer Volodymyr Tsenov were detained on November 4.
- The group allegedly ran a counterfeiting workshop, trafficked drugs through the U420 retail network, supported fraudulent call centers, and carried out kidnapping and torture.
- Investigators believe the organization was organized by thrice-convicted Andrii Osipov, code name 'Crime'.
- NABU searched the homes of senior SBU and National Police officials; Andrii Rubel was not detained.
- Investigators say members planned to attack investigative journalist Denys Bigus over Bihus.info's reporting on U420.
Why it matters
The allegations connect alleged organized crime with senior personnel in several of Ukraine's law-enforcement and prosecution bodies. They span multiple serious offenses, from drug trafficking and counterfeiting to kidnapping, torture and support for fraudulent call centers. Reported plans to target an investigative journalist also highlight the danger posed to journalists and public-interest investigators. Searches at the homes of senior police and SBU officials indicate that the investigation's operational reach has expanded.
What happened
NABU and SAPO announced on November 4 that they had uncovered a second criminal organization while investigating the 'Carthage' operation. According to investigators, the organization united representatives of several law-enforcement agencies with members of the criminal world. The alleged activities included producing counterfeit euro banknotes in a purpose-built workshop, distributing drugs through the U420 store network, supporting fraudulent call centers, and kidnapping and torturing people on commission both in Ukraine and abroad.
The NABU and SAPO said that individual officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General's Office were involved. Among the disclosed suspects, three named in NABU materials worked in law enforcement: one in the SBU and two in the police. Serhii Duka, Major General and deputy head of the SBU's national state security protection department, and Volodymyr Tsenov, first deputy head of the National Police's Department of Strategic Investigations, were detained on November 4. Investigators also identified Oleksandr Demianchuk, code name 'Consultant', as deputy head of a unit in the National Police's Kyiv-region criminal investigations department.
Anti-corruption center Mzha identified Yegor Levchenko, also known as Burkin, a Russian citizen wanted since 2016 and in Ukraine since 2019, as 'Mexican', the alleged founder of the drug syndicate. NABU also searched the homes of Anton Kravchuk, head of the SBU's internal security directorate, and Andrii Rubel, head of the National Police's Kyiv-region department; Rubel was not detained.
Intercepted conversations indicated that members discussed retaliating against Denys Bigus with acid and taking action against public opinion leaders. The U420 network was closed after Bihus.info journalists found prohibited substances in its products.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on the alleged connections between the organization and serving officials of the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General's Office, including searches at the homes of senior officials. Reports provide extensive detail about the alleged offenses, code names, suspected participants, earlier searches and arrests, and support for fraudulent call centers and drug distribution. The coverage also highlights threats against investigative journalist Denys Bigus and presents the searches as a logical continuation of the 'Carthage' investigation.
Background
The 'Carthage' operation began with the uncovering of a first criminal organization in early September; the second organization was announced on November 4. The first organization allegedly operated inside the Prosecutor General's Office, supported call centers in exchange for regular improper benefits and laundered unlawfully obtained funds. The investigation remains pre-trial: authorities said they were collecting evidence and conducting investigative actions before preparing indictment documents and sending the case to court.