L’UkraineHaving investigated corruption linked to call centres and drugs, Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities exposed a criminal network tied to illicit U420 shops and threats against journalists.

Pourquoi c’est important

The case links alleged corruption inside law-enforcement institutions to large-scale call-centre fraud, drug trafficking and the sale of a prohibited synthetic cannabinoid through apparently legitimate shops. The published discussions of attacks against journalists also raise questions about freedom of the press and the willingness to use violence to obstruct investigations. Searches reportedly arranged in advance further suggest possible protection of the network, while the absence of a final judicial determination means the allegations must still be treated as unproven.

Ce qui s’est passé

NABU and SAP announced on 4 November 2026 that they had exposed a criminal organisation in the “Kарфаген” operation. According to investigators, the group coordinated at least 52 fraudulent call centres with roughly 2,700 workers and provided unlawful benefits to senior law-enforcement officials so that the call centres and other illegal businesses could operate without interference. Members also discussed payments of 7,000 dollars per call centre, delivered in cryptocurrency, and links to high-ranking officials of the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

One branch of the alleged criminal activity was the U420 retail network. Investigators said a participant known as “Мексиканець”, identified in the materials as a Russian citizen and leader of the “Khimprom” cartel, owned the stores. The network sold solutions containing a synthetic cannabinoid, mixing it with other substances to remain formally outside the prohibition. Tests by the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ state forensic centre identified a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a variety of “spice”.

The published recordings also show members discussing ways to stop investigative journalism. They first considered paying journalists, then discussed threats, physical attacks and arson. One participant proposed an acid attack on Denys Bigus, founder of Bihus.Info, while other discussions concerned blogger Ihor Lachynkov and the author of the ProKyiv Telegram channel. The participants also considered abducting Bigus abroad under the pretext of a fictitious exhibition.

Law-enforcement officials searched U420 stores on 14 April 2026. According to investigators, the organisation had been warned in advance about the searches, which were later characterised as demonstrative. The criminal proceedings and the wider “Kарфаген” investigation remain ongoing.

Ce qu’en disent les sources ukrainiennes

Ukrainian coverage focuses on the internal security implications of the case, particularly alleged protection of call centres and illegal businesses by officials from the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police and the Prosecutor General’s Office. It also gives substantial attention to the public-health risks posed by U420 products, the forensic identification of synthetic cannabinoids and the retail network’s links to the “Khimprom” cartel. The recordings are presented as evidence that the organisation considered violence against media figures after Bihus.Info investigated U420, while the broader case covers alleged bribery and attempts to interfere with anti-corruption institutions.

Contexte

The first physical U420 stores opened in Kyiv in spring 2025. The network later numbered about 30 locations and was preparing to expand to Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa. Bihus.Info bought products from three Kyiv stores and sent samples to a private laboratory and the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ state forensic centre, which identified a prohibited synthetic cannabinoid. On 5 February 2026, several days after the purchases, the Cabinet of Ministers added the substance to its list of prohibited substances. The “Kарфаген” operation began in September 2026 and was publicly announced in November.