The Polish Police Central Bureau of Investigation (Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji – CBŚP) and the Counter Narcotics Department of the National Police of Ukraine carried out a large-scale operation to dismantle the sites of synthetic opioid production.
Europol supported this operation, which resulted in the dismantling of the largest synthetic opioid laboratory known to date in Poland. During raids conducted in both countries, 7 members of the criminal network responsible for drug production in Poland and Ukraine were arrested. In addition to dismantling several laboratories and seizing large quantities of chemicals and drug precursors, police officers successfully seized 195 kilos of crystal methadone.
The results of the action day include:
- Arrest of 7 members of the criminal network.
- Dismantling of the largest synthetic opioid laboratory ever found in Poland, used to produce crystal methadone.
- Dismantling of 8 multi-laboratories in Poland and Ukraine, used for the production of synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, Alpha-PVP) and methadone.
- Seizure of 195 kilos of crystal methadone.
- Seizure of 153 kilograms of Alfa-PVP.
- Seizure of more than 430 litres of mixtures of different types of drugs prepared for the final production phase.
- Seizure of large quantities of drug precursors and chemical substances necessary for the production of opioids.
Methadone, a synthetic opioid, is a substance used in the medical field as an analgesic 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.
Law enforcement agencies also confiscated substances such as mephedrone and Alpha-PVP, which belong to the group of synthetic cathinones and represent a growing problem in several EU member states. These drugs cause serious psychological and neurological disorders, and their abuse is linked to a high risk of addiction, organ damage, and death.
To obtain more information about the reality of the European illicit markets, it is necessary to consult the EU Drug Markets Report of Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).
This operational success, which involved Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, highlights the effectiveness of cross-border collaboration, which is crucial for protecting the lives and health of citizens from the dangers posed by international crime.
Europol supports its partners in the fight against the production, trafficking, and distribution of synthetic drugs. In 2023, Europol sent an Early Warning Notification to its Member States and partners, warning them of an increase in trafficking of this type of drug. During the investigation phase of the operation, Europol provided information for cross-verification and analysis to support investigators working in the field.
Europol maintains the European Illegal Laboratory Comparison System (EILCS), which contains details of equipment and chemicals used in laboratories, storage sites, and dumping sites for synthetic drugs. This information allows Europol analysts to compare the new incoming information with previous cases. This allows them to find links between illegal sites and help EU member states suppress production facilities across Europe.
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