Four Kaunas residents face trial for carfentanil distribution

Kaunas Regional Court has received a criminal case in which four residents of Kaunas are accused of the unlawful handling of the narcotic substance carfentanil, the Prosecutor’s Office reported.

According to the case, one of the defendants, identified as R. M., allegedly handled carfentanil with the intent to distribute it on four occasions between October 2025 and February 2026. On October 22, 2025, he was detained in Kaunas while transporting 0.00296 grams of the substance. Authorities believe he intended to distribute it but was stopped by police.

Less than a month later, R. M. sold 0.000265 grams of carfentanil to L. S. During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that on February 5, 2026, R. M. purchased narcotic substances twice from another defendant, S. M. After acquiring 0.000514 grams of carfentanil, he soon sold it to R. Š. Later the same day, he purchased an additional 0.000618 grams of carfentanil and 0.000532 grams of methadone, allegedly with the intent to distribute. Police later detained him and seized the substances.

A search of S. M.’s residence uncovered three packages containing narcotic substances, with a total of 0.054 grams of methadone and 0.0653 grams of carfentanil.

Defendants L. S. and R. Š. are accused of unlawfully acquiring and possessing carfentanil without the intent to distribute. Investigators state both men purchased the substance from R. M. for personal use.

R. M. faces charges under Articles 260(1) and 260(2) of the Criminal Code for the unlawful handling of narcotic or psychotropic substances with the intent to distribute, or the unlawful handling of very large quantities of such substances. S. M. is charged under Articles 260(1) and 260(3), while L. S. and R. Š. are charged under Article 259(1) for the unlawful handling of narcotic or psychotropic substances without intent to distribute.

If convicted, the defendants could face up to 15 years in prison.