Raids, threats from the 'Mexican' and the elimination of U420: a blitz with the head of the Department for Drug Crime Control, Torgalo

In a rapid interview for RBC-Ukraine, the head of the Department for Drug Crime Control of the National Police, Dmytro Torgalo, spoke about threats from the “Mexican,” the investigation into the activities of “Chemprom” and the U420 network in particular, and how criminals tried to derail the ban on the illegal substance.

The conversations of Egor Burkin (“the Mexican”), the leader of the criminal group “Chemprom,” in audio recordings released by NABU this week shocked Ukraine. Among those whom the “Mexican” wanted to get rid of was the head of the Department for Drug Crime Control of the National Police, Dmytro Torgalo.

He directly investigated the activities of “Chemprom,” including the U420 chain of stores. Torgalo, like his colleagues in the Department, also received personal threats from the “Mexican.”

“In the recording, he himself talks about closed stores and call centers, and then explains his threats in the words: ‘…because you are doing the same to my friends.’ According to our data, this refers to people in his circle about whom the police conducted investigative actions,” says RBC-Ukraine’s Torgalo.

In conversation with the publication, he detailed the preparation of searches, explained the chronology of police actions, and answered questions about the role of Bihus.Info’s investigation into the U420 network, which so concerned the “Mexican” and his partners in the illegal “business.”

– When did the police begin working on the U420 network?

– As early as September 2025 of this year, the National Police asked the Ministry of Health to add the synthetic cannabinoid ADB-4en-PINACA to the list of prohibited substances. This is the substance used in U420 products.

Documenting the stores’ activities continued from December 2025 of the year. Parallelly, investigators and operatives identified organizers, production sites, supply channels, and movement of funds. In February 2026, the government made a decision to ban ADB-4en-PINACA. Thus, searches were preceded by evidence collection and work on changes necessary to regulate this substance.

This work began under the leadership of Ivan Vyhivskyi and continues under the current head of the National Police, Maksym Tsutskiridze. The case is being worked on jointly by operatives of the Department for Drug Crime Control and investigators of the Main Investigative Directorate.

– What investigative actions were connected to the threats against police officers who worked on the case?

– They came during the preparation and conduct of investigative actions against the “Chemprom.” This refers to searches of group members in June 2025, work against its recruitment call centers in Ukraine, Albania, and Kazakhstan during 2025–2026 years.

In April this year, the police conducted an operation against U420, along with investigative actions against the leader’s closest circle in cases of violent crimes.

Therefore, these threats are connected with specific investigations. They were received by police officers who worked on these cases.

– What were they trying to achieve with this pressure?

– We see this as an attempt to stop work on the group and its surroundings. In the recording, he himself talks about closed stores and call centers, and then explains his threats in the words: ‘…because you are doing the same to my friends.’ According to our data, this concerns people in his circle about whom the police conducted investigative actions.

The threats were directed at police officers who conducted investigative actions against the Chemprom’s entourage. Despite the threats, the searches took place, suspects were charged, and the investigation continues.

– If the police knew about this product, why did the stores continue to operate?

– The organizers used the fact that a particular substance had not yet been added to the list of prohibited substances, and the products were sold as “souvenirs.” To hold them accountable for illegal circulation, it was necessary to regulate its legal status and gather evidence against those involved.

The police initiated the ban but could not implement it by their own decision. The draft resolution required approval by government bodies, a public consultation lasting at least 30 days, and approval by the State Regulatory Service. We underwent this procedure in parallel with documenting the network’s activities.

– But mass searches took place after Bihus.Info’s report about the U420 network. Hence the question: was it the journalistic investigation that forced the police to act?

– We are grateful to journalists for drawing attention to dangerous products. Their investigation gave this problem visibility. At the same time, at the time the story was published, the police were already documenting the network and initiating a ban on the substance used in it.

Preparing searches required identifying production and packaging sites, suppliers, organizers, and financial links. The U420 searches occurred after Bihus.Info’s report. The investigation started long before it.

– The ban was adopted in February, and the searches were conducted in April. What happened between these events?

– “Chemprom” tried to derail the substance ban, which was sold through U420. Through linked individuals, public associations, lawyers, and entrepreneurs, appeals were sent to the Ministry of Health and law enforcement. In February, individuals associated with “Chemprom” also attempted to challenge the decision in an administrative court, but unsuccessfully.

After the ban, organizers transported and destroyed products with PINACA (class of synthetic cannabinoids, – ed.) and began to bring other formulas to the market.

Investigators and operatives continued documenting the network’s activity, identifying its participants, and preparing investigative actions at production, storage, and selling sites. It was necessary to gather evidence on the entire structure, including those who organized supply and controlled funds.

– What was found and seized during the operation, and at what stage is the case now?

– Investigators from the Crime Investigation Department and operatives of the Drug Crime Control and Economic Security Department jointly prepared this operation. 14 In April, the police conducted 281 searches. They stopped operations at production, packaging, and distribution sites, and shut down all U420 stores.

More than 54 thousand liters of CBD-containing product were seized, and more than three tons of joint blend were confiscated. In the course of the investigation, 416 accounts and nearly four million USDT were arrested.

Six suspects were charged. More than 2 800 expert studies were ordered to determine the composition of the seized product. Their results will be considered in the ongoing legal assessment of the involved. This is why the work on the case continues even after the closure of trading points.

– You say the organizers changed the formulas. What prevents repeating this scheme with a new substance?

– This is precisely what the following changes aimed to limit. At the initiative of the National Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with experts and the Ministry of Health, in October the government approved Resolution No. 1213. It established criteria for controlling derivatives of six groups of substances, including synthetic cannabinoids, fentanyl, and cathinone.

Now, if a new compound meets the criteria defined in the resolution and does not fall under the specified exemptions, it is covered by state control. There is no need to separately add each such formula to the list.

At the same time, work continues on organizers, other participants, and finances of “Chemprom.” The leader of the group has been charged and is wanted internationally. The closure of U420 is one stage of this investigation.

– How would you comment on NABU’s investigation of the same case, in which your colleagues may be involved?

– Currently, as I understand it, the investigation is ongoing, so I cannot comment yet; let us wait for the results. But we see that U420 stores are not operating.

National Police of Ukraine