Russian drug trafficker Alexander Shchiptsov, the leader of an international criminal group called Khimprom, and wanted by Interpol, had been living in Ukraine since 2014 using false documents with different names (Yashin, Pechersky. – Auth.). He's currently detained by the special services and is in the Volyn migration center for stateless persons.
Russian drug lord trafficker Alexander Shchiptsov
The leader of the international organized crime group Khimprom, wanted by Interpol, had been living in Ukraine since 2014 using false documents with different names (Yashin, Pechersky. – Auth.). He's currently detained by the special services and is in the Volyn migration center for stateless persons.
“In July 2017 Shchiptsov was put on the international wanted list through Interpol, so to avoid Russian justice he is on the territory of Ukraine. Back in 2014, Shchiptsov receives two fake passports, the first with the name Yashin Alexander Yurievich, place of birth – Russian Federation, the second with the name Pechersky Alexander Konstantinovich, place of birth – Republic of Moldova”, – said lawyer Dmitry Kalenov.
According to “Ukrrudprom”, citing a source in the law enforcement agencies, the drug dealer's legalization in Ukraine allegedly happened due to his cooperation with the prosecutor’s office.
Back in 2014, well-known Ukrainian journalist Mikhail Tkach in his video blog talked about the luxury cars driven by employees of the prosecutor’s office. At that time, Petrashkin worked as an assistant to First Deputy Prosecutor General Mykola Gerasymyuk and was spotted by journalists when he came to the prosecutor’s office in a luxury SUV.
“For example, this guy in a jeep with a driver, according to our information, works as an assistant to First Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolai Gerasimyuk. His name is Artem Petrashkin. Artem, is it true? Then respond and tell us about your salary”, – wrote Mikhail Tkach in his blog on the website “Ukrainian truth”.
And in 2019, according to “Nashi grosci,” Petrashkin was already listed as an advisor to the Minister of Justice Denis Malyuska.
According to “Ukrrudprom,” Shchiptsov revealed all his associates in the drug cartel “Khimprom” allegedly to Petrashkin, after which they were all detained by the Ukrainian security services: “Shchiptsov told about everything – the schemes of work, methods of transporting drugs, receiving money, as well as named all his “colleagues” and provided them with information that made it possible to detain them and initiate criminal proceedings against them.”
The SBU announced that they had uncovered Shchyptsov’s group. Then the investigation found that since 2014 the drug dealers had set up an extensive network to sell drugs for cryptocurrency in the former CIS countries. The sale was done through websites and chatbots in the messenger “Telegram”. Later, the money from the cryptocurrency was converted and made legitimate in Ukraine.
“The SBU’s catch was rich. During the operation, twenty people were detained, 80 searches were conducted, money, gold and jewelry worth $ 5 million, black accounting, drugs, firearms, explosives and special equipment were seized. During searches in a private house in Osokorki, the law enforcers found a drug laboratory in Kiev. They seized equipment for the production of drugs, over 10 kg of psychotropic substance alpha PVP, 5 kg of mephedrone, over 5 kg of amphetamine at total black market prices of more than 20 million hryvnia,” wrote the weekly Delo.
After the high-profile detention of “colleagues” in 2019, Shchiptsov continued drug trafficking in Ukraine.
According to lawyer Dmitry Kalenov, the criminal activity brought in about $20 million a month and about a quarter of a billion conventional units a year.
However, a year later, Shchiptsov’s “deal” with Petrashkin risked being made public. In 2020, activists rallied under the office of the Prosecutor General, demanding to stop the criminal activities of Khimprom in Ukraine. At the rally, the names of both Schiptsov and Petrashkin were repeatedly heard. The latter was called upon to stop covering up the criminal activities of the Russian drug lord.
But with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, much changed for Shchiptsov. Law enforcement officials say that in the summer of 2022, all documents that allowed Shchiptsov to live in Ukraine were revoked.
“Such a situation is a green light for the Ukrainian security forces, which could also activate the investigation into the Khimprom case, which has been going on for more than a year,” the newspaper wrote.
