The Polish Police Central Bureau of Investigation (Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji – CBŚP) and the Counter Narcotics Department of the National Police of Ukraine (Департамент боротьби з наркозлочинністю Національної поліції України) conducted a large-scale operation to dismantle production sites of synthetic opioids and cathinones. Europol supported this operation, which led to the dismantling of the largest synthetic opioid production laboratory in Poland to date. During 38 raids conducted across both countries, 7 members of the criminal network responsible for drug production in Poland and Ukraine were taken into custody. In addition to the dismantling of various laboratories and the seizure of massive quantities of chemicals and drug precursors, law enforcement officers secured 195 kilograms of crystal methadone.
Results of the action day include:
- arrest of 7 members of the criminal network;
- dismantling of the largest laboratory of synthetic opioids ever found in Poland, used to produce methadone in crystalline form;
- dismantling of 8 multi-laboratories in Poland and Ukraine, used for the production of synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, Alpha-PVP) and methadone;
- seizure of 195 kilograms of methadone in crystalline form;
- seizure of 153 kilograms of Alpha-PVP;
- seizure of over 430 litres of reaction mixtures of different types of drugs prepared for the final production stage;
- seizure of large quantities of drug precursors and chemicals necessary for the production of synthetic opioids and cathinones.
Highly harmful and lethal substances seized
Methadone, a synthetic opioid, is a substance used in the medical field as a painkiller and in the treatment of opioid addiction. However, the substance produced by the criminal network was in a concentrated crystalline form, which is only found on the illegal drug market and the danger of which cannot be overstated.
Law enforcement also seized substances such as mephedrone and Alpha-PVP, which belong to the group of synthetic cathinones and represent an increasing problem in several EU Member States. These drugs cause serious psychological and neurological disorders, and their abuse is associated with a high risk of addiction, organ damage, and death.
For more information about the reality of the European illicit markets please refer to the EU Drug Markets Report by Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).
Synthetic drugs as law enforcement priority
This operational success involving Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies underscores the effectiveness of cross-border collaboration, which is crucial for safeguarding our societies and protecting the lives and health of citizens from the dangers posed by international organised drug crime.
Europol supports its partners in the fight against the production, trafficking and distribution of synthetic drugs. In 2023, Europol sent out an Early Warning Notification to its Member States and partners, warning them about an increase in trafficking of these type of drugs. During the operation’s investigation phase, Europol provided intelligence for cross-checking and analysis to support investigators on the field. As a priority of the EU Policy Cycle – EMPACT, this operation was also financially supported by the platform, which contributed to its successful outcome.
Europol maintains the European Illicit Laboratory Comparison System (EILCS), which contains details of equipment and chemicals used in laboratories, storage places, and dumping sites for synthetic drugs. This data enables Europol analysts to compare new incoming information with previous cases. This allows them to find links between illicit sites and to assist EU Member States in cracking down on production facilities across Europe.
The equipment needed to carry out this operation was made possible by the ‘Crystal Palace’ project – “Strengthening the Actions of the EMPACT NPS and Synthetic Drugs Platform under the EMPACT 2022+ Instrument” – led by Poland, the Netherlands, and Italy, and funded by the European Union Internal Security Fund.
