Ukrainian anti-korruption agency uncovers second criminal group in “Carthage” operation
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities say they have uncovered a second criminal organization during the “Carthage” operation. The alleged network links senior personnel from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office to drug trafficking, fraudulent call centres, currency counterfeiting, kidnapping and torture.
Hovedpunkter
- NABU and SAP announced the second organization on 4 November.
- The first organization was uncovered in early September.
- NABU says the second group involved officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office.
- SBU Major General Serhii Duka and police senior official Volodymyr Tsenov were reportedly detained.
- The network allegedly operated a workshop for counterfeiting euro banknotes and engaged in kidnapping and torture.
- The organization allegedly planned revenge against investigative journalist Denys Bigus.
- Searches were reported at the homes of senior police and SBU officials.
Hvorfor det er vigtigt
The investigation connects alleged serious crimes with senior personnel across several Ukrainian law-enforcement and prosecution bodies. The reported threats against journalist Denys Bigus also highlight risks facing journalists and public-interest investigators, while searches at senior officials’ homes indicate an expansion of the operation’s reach.
Hvad der skete
NABU and SAP announced on 4 November that they had uncovered another criminal organization during the “Carthage” operation. According to investigators, the network combined representatives of several law-enforcement bodies with figures from the criminal world and allegedly involved officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office.
The alleged activities included drug distribution through the U420 store network, support for fraudulent call centres, counterfeiting euro banknotes in a dedicated workshop, and kidnapping and torture on orders both in Ukraine and abroad. Participants allegedly discussed retaliating against investigative journalist Denys Bigus by throwing acid at him and targeting public figures.
Anticorruption Centre “Mezha” identified the alleged drug-trafficking organiser known as “Mexican” as Russian citizen Yegor Levchenko, also known as Burkin. NABU detained SBU Major General Serhii Duka, identified as “Akim”, and police official Volodymyr Tsenov, identified as “Price”. Searches were also reported at the homes of National Police regional chief Andrii Rubel and SBU internal security chief Anton Kravchuk; Rubel was not detained.
Sådan beskriver ukrainske kilder det
Ukrainian reporting focuses on alleged links between the organization and serving officials in the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office, as well as searches involving senior law-enforcement officials. The coverage also details the alleged crimes, code names, suspected participants, arrests and support for fraudulent call centres and drug distribution, while presenting the latest searches as a logical continuation of the “Carthage” investigation.
Baggrund
The “Carthage” operation began with the discovery of a first criminal organization in early September. That organization allegedly operated within the Prosecutor General’s Office, supported call centres in return for improper benefits and laundered unlawfully obtained money.
The investigation remains at the pre-trial stage. Authorities said they were collecting evidence and conducting investigative actions before preparing indictment documents and transferring the case to court.