U420

Nationwide drug network selling "spice" souvenirs, organized by a Russian under the cover of bloggers and bribery of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The U420 network is one of the projects of the criminal group "Khimprom"; the essence: manufacturing and distributing products containing synthetic cannabinoids across Ukraine under the guise of "souvenirs." Organized by a Russian. In a few months, the network grew from 13 to 105 stores in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. The main product is ready-to-smoke joints. Bihus.Info journalists purchased "souvenirs" from three Kyiv stores and sent them for examination to two laboratories. The Scientific Research Expert Forensic Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed: the products contain the synthetic cannabinoid ADB-4en-PINACA, a type of spice, classified as a psychotropic substance.

200+ searches, bribery of Ministry of Internal Affairs officials recorded, and advertising in Kyiv metro

The organizers regularly changed the composition of the products, adapting formulas to current banned lists issued by the Cabinet of Ministers. During wiretaps, the suspects discussed bribing Ministry of Internal Affairs officials to protect the network from law enforcement. U420 advertisements appeared in the Kyiv metro — after the scandal, the banners were removed. Bloggers actively promoted the network for a reward. On April 14, 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the National Police conducted over 200 searches in stores and residences of related individuals; the network was dismantled. The narcotic raw materials were produced in Kyiv and Dnipro, then distributed throughout all regions.