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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The defendants in the case wanted that during searches in U420 network stores, not all of the merchandise be seized.
The Independent Anti-Corruption Center MEZHA named the head of the Department for Combating Drug Crime of the National Police of Ukraine, Dmytro Torgalo, as the police official whose removal from office was proposed for two million dollars. The offer came from a defendant nicknamed “Mexican” during discussions of future searches. MEZHA reported this on Facebook.
In the NABU recordings in the Karfagen case, Yehor Levchenko (Burkin), also known as “Mexican,” proposed 2 million dollars to remove from office a three-star police general Dmytro Torgal, the head of the Department for Combating Drug Crime of the National Police. The offer was made during a discussion of future searches in stores where drugs were allegedly sold.
Burkin, according to the investigation, headed the transnational drug cartel “Khimpram” and owned the U420 store network. According to the investigation, he was one of the organizers of a group that also provided operations for fraudulent call centers under the guise of law enforcement.
In the fragment of the recording released by the MEZHA center, Burkin asked to consider his proposal immediately. He wanted Torgalo to be removed from service, and he threatened to deal with him while he held the position.
“This proposal comes amid discussions of future searches in drug stores. ‘Mexican’ wants them to be conducted in a ‘controlled’ manner, i.e., without frightened sales staff and personnel and without seizing all the ‘product,’” MEZHA notes.
Andriy Osipov (NABU and SAP suspect him of demanding a million dollars) promised, through a interlocutor he called the “General,” to find out what materials the investigation has and what actions law enforcement is preparing.
14 April 2026 of the year, the National Police conducted searches in U420 stores under procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General. Torgalo had previously publicly opposed the sale of cannabis in coffee shops. He emphasized that the drug business operates through sprawling structures that adapt to new conditions and seek routes for supplying drugs and precursors.
“We do not view these criminals as just a group of individuals who commit crimes related to illegal drug trafficking. These are real business structures for which our state has always been a favorable transit field, as it is essentially located in the center of the European continent,” Torgalo said.
As MEZHA noted, Torgalo remained in office. The center raised questions about his possible loyalty to the defendants, but the post did not provide evidence for this assumption: “But, as is known, Torgalo remained in office. Did he become loyal?”.
As part of Operation Karfagen, NABU and SAP reported the exposure of a criminal organization that, according to the investigation, included at least 12 people. Among the defendants are officials of the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police, and the Office of the Prosecutor General. The investigation believes that participants of the organization, for money, provided shielding for the drug business and fraudulent call centers.
Among the defendants named by MEZHA are Andriy Osipov (“Criminal”), Yehor Levchenko, or Burkin (“Mexican”), Volodymyr Tsenov (“Price”), Oleksandr Demianchuk (“Consultant”), and Serhiy Duke (“Akim”). The recordings also mention “Boxer” and “Pasha,” whom the investigation links to beatings and tortures. After the materials were published, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Poklad, removed two senior service officials who figure in the investigation from their posts.
Recall that the U420 store network was uncovered in spring 2026 of the year. According to NABU, it was controlled by the co-founder of the Karfagen case group nicknamed “Mexican” and his partner “Criminal.” To allow the network to continue operating, the “Mexican” asked his partner to find a way to bribe a minister and later other influential figures. The bribery plan was not realized, including due to a Bihus.Info investigation preparation. Upon learning about the planned story, the defendants discussed how to bribe Denys Bihus or pour acid on him.
Additionally, according to NABU, the group was shielded from checks by a SBU major general nicknamed “Akim.” He knew about its activities and helped it resolve questions within the Security Service and the Office of the Prosecutor General. Through these connections, “Criminal” received information from databases and assistance in legal cases. “Akim” also informed him about searches in the National Police directorates of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Zhytomyr regions. From 16 October 2025 to 25 April 2026 of the year, to the crypto wallet indicated by “Criminal,” 3,75 million USDT was transferred.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Операція «Карфаген»: стало відомо, якого поліцейського хотів усунути з посади «Мексиканець» за 2 млн доларів". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ZN.ua.
