The Security Service of Ukraine and National Police have prevented new attempts to illegally trade in weapons and ammunition in Ukraine.

As a result of operations in Kyiv, southern, and western regions, fifteen suspects involved in the scams have been detained.

The seized inventory includes russian grenade launchers, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, and 9 kg of explosives.

In Kyiv, three traffickers have been exposed who were transporting weapons from former combat zaones in frontline areas to sell them in the capital.

While looking for clients, they hid weapons, including Kalashnikov assault rifles, in their apartments and a specially rented garage.

Three more members of an organized criminal group have been detained in the city of Chernivtsi while attempting to sell a portable anti-tank grenade launcher and 35 TNT charges with igniters and electronic detonators.

In Kherson region, the SSU has exposed a resident of Beryslav district, previously convicted of theft and drug trafficking, who later got involved in illegal arms dealing.

According to the investigation, he equipped a cache in a basement of his house, where he stored combat grenades and anti-tank mines for further sale.

In Prykarpattia, traffickers from Kolomyia and Kosiv districts have been detained for looking for criminals to sell them three dozen fragmentation grenades.

In Chernihiv, law enforcement officers have uncovered five more dealers. Among them is a 38-year-old local criminal who had already served prison terms for theft and drug trafficking and was in pretrial detention for new crimes.

While in custody, the repeat offender involved accomplices to sell weapons, which they transported from former combat zones and hid in caches.

The detained persons have been notified of suspicion under Article 263.1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 7 years in prison.

The operations were carried out under the procedural supervision of Podillia, Beryslav, Kolomyia and Kosiv District Prosecutor’s Offices.