Operation Carthage: SAPO and NABU reported suspicion to five suspects, including high-ranking SBU and police officials

As part of the large-scale anti-corruption operation “Carthage”, law enforcement officers reported suspicions to five members of an alleged criminal organization. Among the suspects are high-ranking officials of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police. According to the investigation, the members of the group could provide cover for illegal business, in particular fraudulent call centers, for bribes.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office reported this on November 6.

Who was reported on suspicion

According to law enforcement officers, suspicions were received by five people who, according to the investigation, were involved in the activities of a criminal organization.

In particular:

The organizer of the group, who appears in the investigation materials under the pseudonym “Criminal”. He is suspected of creating a criminal organization, torture, making counterfeit money, laundering property obtained illegally, and bribery.
The first deputy head of one of the SBU departments, known in the case materials as “Akim”. According to journalists, this is Major General Serhiy Duka. He is accused of creating, leading a criminal organization and participating in it.
The head of one of the departments of the National Police, who appears under the pseudonym “Price”. According to the publication “Babel”, this is Volodymyr Tsenov. He is suspected of participating in a criminal organization and receiving illegal benefits.
The deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kyiv Region Police, known as “Consultant”. According to journalists, this is Oleksandr Demyanchuk. He was informed of suspicion of participation in a criminal organization, torture and production of counterfeit money.
A subordinate of the organizer of the group, who is suspected of creating a criminal organization, participating in its activities and torture.
Fraudulent call centers, drugs and counterfeit money

According to the investigation, the criminal organization could have been involved in the activities of fraudulent call centers, illegal drug trafficking, counterfeit money, kidnapping and beating people.

Law enforcement officers are establishing possible connections between the group’s members and representatives of law enforcement agencies who could have protected illegal activities from exposure.

According to the investigation, at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Khimprom drug cartel expanded its activities on the territory of Ukraine.

Its leader, known under the pseudonym “Mexican”, allegedly involved “Criminal” in cooperation, who was supposed to provide cover for illegal business thanks to connections in law enforcement agencies.

What is known about the searches and the scandal with the SBU official

Recall that on November 4, NABU detectives conducted searches in one of the closed cottage towns in the north of Kyiv.

According to journalists, the investigative actions took place in the house of a high-ranking SBU official, Serhiy Duka.

Earlier, the NABU stated that during the investigative actions, a high-ranking official of the Security Service of Ukraine threatened detectives with a firearm. At the same time, the Bureau did not name him in the report.

Later, law enforcement officers confirmed that the searches were carried out as part of a large-scale operation “Carthage”.

A pre-trial investigation is currently underway. In accordance with the principle of the presumption of innocence, all those involved are considered innocent until their guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by law and confirmed by a court verdict of guilty.