Law enforcement officials conducted nearly 130 searches across 20 regions of Ukraine, destroying 21,000 cannabis and poppy plants. Fourteen individuals have been charged with illegal cultivation of narcotic plants.

In August, under the coordination of the National Police’s Drug Crime Department, the first phase of the nationwide operation dubbed 'Gentlemen' was launched, involving criminal police officers and investigators from various regions, supported by special forces.

The operation was part of an annual initiative aimed at combating the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants. Its primary goal was to identify and eliminate illegal cannabis and poppy crops, preventing them from entering the black market.

During the operation, 128 searches were carried out at residential properties and garden plots in 20 regions. Criminals disguised illegal crops by planting them among agricultural fields. Authorities discovered and destroyed over 21,000 narcotic plants and seized nearly 57 kilograms of cannabis, along with equipment, cash, and vehicles.

This operation prevented approximately 4.2 tons of narcotic products from reaching the black market, which could have brought drug dealers over 200 million hryvnias in illegal profits.

Nine suspects have been detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

Currently, investigators have charged 14 individuals under Articles 307 and 310 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, with plans to charge an additional 43 individuals following forensic examinations.

In particular, in Cherkasy, an organized group of five individuals was exposed for illegally cultivating cannabis and producing cannabis products, which they personally delivered to the capital for sale. Authorities destroyed nearly 7,500 cannabis plants.

In Zhytomyr, police documented a drug scheme involving individuals growing cannabis among corn plants, resulting in the destruction of over 5,000 plants.