Ukmergė police uncover online drug distribution network

Police in Ukmergė have uncovered a suspected large-scale online drug distribution operation, with substances hidden in unusual locations around the city and district, LRT reported.

Officers from the Ukmergė District Police Commissariat arrested a suspect accused of possessing a very large quantity of narcotic or psychotropic substances with intent to distribute them. A court ordered the suspect detained.

According to the pre-trial investigation, the suspect allegedly used the Telegram messaging app to offer crystal drugs, cannabis, hashish, LSD and cocaine through a channel. Buyers ordered remotely and paid in cryptocurrency to a wallet controlled by the suspect. After payment, they were told where to collect their purchases, without meeting the seller.

Police said they found hiding places beneath apartment building window sills, beside utility poles, inside road sign structures, in residential fences and electrical cabinets, and in wooded areas. Some packages were fitted with small metal magnets so they could be attached to metal surfaces for collection.

Officers searched the hiding places and seized what they suspect is a very large quantity of a crystalline psychotropic substance, along with other potentially illegal drugs. The substances have been sent to specialists to determine their exact composition and quantity.